 "Photo: Juan Blas")
Columbia 8 - Florence 1
USC junior Nick Godwin took the ball on opening night at Capital City Stadium and didn't disappoint the 3,117 fans in attendance for the Columbia Blowfish season opener as he struck out seven batters over six innings to help knock off South Division rival Florence 8-1.
"Its been a while since I've been back out there so it was good to get back out there in front of a crowd and get my adrenaline pumping a little bit," Godwin said. "I like this crowd. We always get a good crowd here, and they're always behind us."
Godwin allowed only four hits and one earned run in his appearance.
Giving Godwin some offensive help were Justin Greene and Matt Arnold. Greene finished the night going 3-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, while Arnold went an impressive 2-for-3 with one run and two RBIs.
Florence 8 - Columbia 7
FLORENCE - Columbia coach Medlin had two problems in Thursday night's game against Florence- No. 1: The team yielded a 6-0 lead that lead to extra-inning baseball. And, Medlin wasn't in the dugout to see the end of the game.
However, Medlin wasn't alone in his absence as Florence coach Sean Heffernan was also ejected prior to the ending of a marathon 13-inning ball game that ended on a single by Christian Rosa to win the game for Florence 8-7.
Columbia, which only beat Florence once last season, built a 6-0 lead after the second inning eventually dissipated after the Redwolves chipped away with six one run innings throughout the game. Florence tied things up in the bottom the ninth at 7-7 and sent the game into extra innings.
Medlin, who was arguing a warning given to the dugout after a strike call, was ejected in the bottom of the 12th inning. In the next frame, Redwolves center fielder David Lough set up the winning run after being walked and proceeding to steal second. Rosa's hit through the left side of the field brought Lough in despite a strong throw home by left fielder Justin Greene.
Columbia 2 - Wilmington 0
WILMINGTON, N.C. - Brandon White didn't get much assistance from the Columbia Blowfish offense Monday night in Wilmington, N.C.
White yielded just one hit and struck out four Sharks over six innings of work to earn his first victory of the year as the Blowfish earned their second win of the season 2-0 over Wilmington.
"Brandon White did exactly tonight what we expect Brandon White to do," Medlin said. "Terry Oldaker had another great outing out of the pen and when you can bring the Division II National Pitcher of the Year, Dylan Owen, in to close it out its pretty good.
The Columbia batters provided just enough offense at just the right times to earn the win as Jamal Kinard hit an infield single and scored the games first run on a passed ball. Columbia added an insurance run in the next inning as right fielder Tyler McBride hit a triple and was brought home on a Blair Carson sacrifice fly.
Columbia 1 - New Bern 9
NEW BERN, N.C. - The Columbia Blowfish bats couldn't find the answer to New Bern pitcher Tom Koehler as they lost 9-1.
"New Bern was great today, they did a great job, they pitched exceptionally well," Columbia coach Tim Medlin said. "They did a great job of shutting us down."
The team mustered just four hits on the day, all of which were singles. The lone run came in the eighth inning when a bases-loaded walk to Eddie Tisdale brought home Will Lewis.
Blowfish right-handed pitcher William Buzhardt kept the game scoreless through three innings before the River Rats scored three in the third. New Bern added another six runs over the next two innings to cruise to the win.
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