Former USC Salkehatchie Indian, Florence's Ali Williams (Charleston Southern 1-1) suffered his first loss of the season after giving up six runs, five earned, on nine hits in six innings against the Columbia Blowfish.
Florence (10-4) struck first in the second after Barrett Kleinknecht (Francis Marion) doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Myckie Lugbauer (Maine) to give Florence a 1-0 lead.
Columbia responded in the third inning with four runs to establish an early advantage. Matt Williams (Liberty) singled with one out, moved to second on Scott Wingo's (South Carolina) walk, and scored on an RBI single by Branfry Arias (Tusculum). Matt Leeds (College of Charleston) followed with a sacrifice fly to score Wingo. Jeff Jefferson (Liberty) then got his first hit as a Blowfish with a single that moved Arias up to second. John Long (Liberty) emptied this bases with a line drive to the outfield that was misplayed by right fielder Austin Smetana (Francis Marion), allowing Arias and Jefferson to score and make it 4-1 Columbia.
The Red Wolves made it exciting again with a two-run sixth. Kleinknecht hit his second double with one out and came around on Steven Neff's (South Carolina) RBI single to right field. Herman Petzold (Notre Dame) then drove home Neff with another single to cut into Columbia's lead, 4-3.
The Blowfish scored two in the bottom of the inning and then put it away with two more in the seventh. Jim Rider (Kent St) hit a one-out single, advanced on a walk by Gabe Grammar (Presbyterian), and scored after Catlin Carter's (UNC-Asheville) base hit into left field was overrun by Florence's Zach Caldwell (Missouri Southern). Matt Williams then hit a slow ground ball that was misplayed by Florence shortstop Tyler Burnett (Middle Tennessee), allowing Grammar to score and give Columbia a 6-3 lead.
In the seventh, Long doubled to plate Jefferson and then scored himself after Petzold made an errant throw on Jim Rider's infield single to second base. However, Columbia's 8-3 lead looked to be in jeapardy after the Red Wolves loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth. Columbia reliever Richard Mounce (Clemson) then struck out the next two batters and forced Smetana to ground into a fielder's choice to end Florence's scoring threat.
Mounce did not allow a run in 2.1 innings, striking out three and allowing two hits.
