RedWolves split with Blowfish

FLORENCE — Throughout the summer, the Florence RedWolves’ offense has been somewhat of a Jekyll and Hyde act.

One game, the RedWolves might score double-digit runs. The next, they might have trouble getting a run home from third.

Such was the case on Friday night when Florence blasted its way to a 13-3 win in the first game of a doubleheader with the Columbia Blowfish before dropping the nightcap 2-1.

Most frustrating for the RedWolves in the second game is they stranded seven runners from the fourth through the sixth innings. They left the bases loaded in the fourth and failed to score in the sixth after putting runners at second and third with no outs.

“Baseball is a game that’s got to be played the same all the time,” said Florence coach Wes Davis. “We got big hits when we needed them in the first game tonight, but we didn’t get them in the second game.”

After Columbia took a 2-1 lead on an RBI single from Branfry Arias in the top of the sixth, Florence put runners at second and third in the bottom of the frame. Myckie Lugbauer led off with walk and was pinch run for by Sam DiMatteo before Patrick Dolan doubled to left.

Columbia’s Brandon McCreery then took over for John Long on the mound, retiring Herman Petzold on a comebacker to the mound, Richard Pirkle on a popout to the catcher and Austin Smetana on a groundout to short to end the inning.

Drew Mahaffey sat down the top of the RedWolves’ lineup in order, striking out two, to earn his fourth save.

“When you can’t score a guy from third base with nobody out, it’s going to be tough to win,” Davis said. “If you don’t take advantage of those situations at the plate, you’re going to be in trouble.“

Florence right-hander Stephen McCray (5-2) was the hard-luck loser. In going the distance in the seven-inning game, he gave up three hits, walked one and struck out nine. Both Columbia runs were earned.

“To say (a lack of run support) is not frustrating is a lie, but these guys are giving it their all,” said McCray, who is on the National team roster for Tuesday’s CPL All-Star Game in Wilmington. “It’s baseball. It happens in the big leagues. And if it happens in the big leagues, it’s going to happen here.

“Day-in, day-out, I do my best for them and they do their best for me. That’s all you can ask. Not one of them went up there trying not to get a hit.”

Columbia took a 1-0 lead in the first when Matt Williams reached on a lead-off double, took third on a bunt and scored on a groundout by Arias.

Florence tied it 1-1 in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Steven Neff and Barrett Kleinknecht.

Lugbauer and Petzold walked to load the bases with two out in the inning before Pirkle struck out swinging.

In the Florence fifth, Drew Haynes doubled and Neff was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second with two out before Kleinknecht struck out swinging.

In the first game, right-hander David Haselden tossed six solid innings and was backed by big offense from Kleinknecht, Brad Raj and Neff in the 13-3 win.
Haselden (4-3) gave up six hits, three runs (one earned), walked one and struck out four.

Kleinknecht finished 3-for-4 with an RBI double in the first, an RBI single in the third and a two-run single in the sixth.

Raj was 2-for-3 with a single and a grand slam in the seventh, while Neff was 3-for-3 with two RBI, including a solo homer in the fifth.

The RedWolves, who lead the CPL South by a game and a half, play at Fayetteville tonight and Wednesday before hosting Forest City on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.