Blowfish Fall Quietly in Loss to Wilmington

Jeff Jefferson had an RBI single in the first

COLUMBIA - Well so much for the offensive outburst. After averaging six runs per game last week, the Columbia Blowfish have now been held to one run combined in their past two games.

The renewed offensive funk continued Friday night, as the Blowfish fell to the Wilmington Sharks 5-1 at Capital City Stadium.

Wilmington (4-13) shut down Columbia (6-13) primarily behind the arm of Adam Schrader (SW Minnesota St 2-4), who gave up only one run off two hits in six innings. Schrader overshadowed Columbia starter Stew Brase (Charleston Southern 0-4) who pitched a season-long 6.1 innings, giving up only five hits and two earned runs. However, three walks and two Blowfish errors accounted for three unearned runs.

Brase has improved since returning to the starting rotation last week. After struggling in his first five starts of the season, he has now given up only three earned runs in his past 10.1 innings.

"I had a little bit of a rough year at school," Brase said, "I've just been working with the coaches trying to bounce back and I'm glad to find a way to get in there.

The Sharks' Hunter Ford (Campbell) picked up his first save after pitching three scoreless innings and surrendering only two hits.

Wilmington struck in the first. Trevor Willis (Iowa) walked and stole second to start the game. He then scored on an RBI single by Andrew Guerra (St. Louis) to give the Sharks a 1-0 lead.

Columbia responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Branfry Arias (Tusculum) was hit by a pitch with one out. Jeff Jefferson (Liberty) later drove Arias in with an RBI single to right field, allowing Arias to tie the game up 1-1.

2B Scott Wingo fires to first as Wilmington's Curt Courtwright slides in safely. A throw from third drew Wingo off the bag.

Wilmington took over in the third. Curt Courtwright (Missouri St) singled to lead off and Mchael Rooney (UNC-Wilmington) followed with a grounder to third. The throw to second by third baseman Jim Rider (Kent St) drew Scott Wingo (South Carolina) off the bag, allowing Courtwright to slide in safely. Both runners moved up a base with a steal, and Courtwright scored on a groundout by Adam Eggemeyer (SIU-Edwardsville). Guerra then followed with his second RBI single to plate Rooney and give Wilmington a 3-1 advantage.

Two more came across for the Sharks in the seventh. Brase walked Courtwright and Willis to begin the inning, causing Columbia coach Lee Gronkiewicz to change pitchers. Both runners broke for a stolen base on Gabe Grammar's (Presbyterian) first pitch and the resulting throw by Columbia catcher Jeff Jefferson sailed over Rider's glove at third, allowing Courtwright to score. Rooney followed by driving home Willis to give Wilmington a 5-1 lead.

The Blowfish had opportunities, but struggled with runners in scoring position yet again. With the bases loaded in the third, Jefferson grounded into a double play to end the inning. Columbia had runners on first and third in the eighth, but Ford struck out Derek Smith (Charleston Southern) to escape the jam. Finally, in the ninth, Columbia had two runners on, but Wingo grounded into another double play to end the game.

Notes: Wilmington has won the last three games in the series... Wingo has now reached base safely in 10 consecutive games... Matt Leeds is still looking for his first hit since being named to the All-Star team on July 14... The Blowfish will have a say in the CPL South Division race. All five games next week will be against either first-place Florence or second-place Wilson... Columbia will embark on a two-game road trip, with the first game Saturday in Martinsville at 7:05pm.