Blowfish come back in ninth and stun Grizz on the road

GASTONIA, N.C. — Coming into Friday night’s game in Gastonia, Lexington County was on a three game losing skid looking to shake it against the Grizzlies.

Although they trailed from the second all the way through the bottom of the eighth, they had a huge come from behind win on the road 4-3.

Gastonia got things going in the bottom of the second when they loaded the bases and drew a bases loaded two out walk from Lawson McArthur (NC State) to scratch off the first run. Grizz led 1-0.

Gastonia extended their lead in the fifth on an RBI single off the bat of Chaz Davey (Erskine) that plated Luke Setzer (Catawba).

The Blowfish found a way to cut the Grizz lead in half in the top of the sixth when Marshawn Taylor (Grambling State) came into score on an error at third base on a Nick Guimbarda (Presbyterian) tapper on the infield. After six it was 2-1 Grizzlies.

Gastonia added some insurance in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch that skipped over the Blowfish dugout. Davey came into score the third run for Gastonia which pushed their lead back up to two heading into the top of the ninth. But in the ninth Lexington County exploded and took the lead.

It all started with a solo home run to right center from Guimbarda that cut the lead back to 1. After the homer Dom Cuoci (St. Joseph’s) doubled and Drew Ellis (Mt. Olive University) walked.

After a flyout that allowed both runners to move up, the tying run for Lexington County came into score on a Ty Haselman (UCLA) fielder’s choice.

Lexington County took the lead on a steal play that caught the Grizz. Lexington County sent Haselman down to second and the throw from the Harris Yett (UNC-Charlotte) was cut off but the throw back to the plate from the shortstop Ryan Cox (Kutztown) was up the first base line and the go-ahead run came into score.

Hunter Dollander (USC-Aiken) worked around two out trouble in the ninth and slammed the door on the Grizzlies and notched his fifth save of 2017. Lexington County completed the ninth inning comeback and stunned the Grizzlies 4-3.

Tomorrow night the Blowfish play their final game before the All-Star Break. The Fish welcome on in the Florence RedWolves for a 7:05 start time at Lexington County Baseball Stadium. Coverage on z93.1 FM The Lake will begin at 6:45.

Ty Haselman