The Fayetteville SwampDogs fell to the Columbia Blowfish, 7-3, in Game 2 of the 2012 Petitt Cup on Monday night, as the series will head to a winner-take-all Game 3 at “The Swamp” on Tuesday evening.

The game began in promising fashion, as the Dogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning of play. Fayetteville recorded four consecutive two-out base hits, as they rallied to take the first lead of the game. Mike Tauchman (Bradley) singled and stole second before Reed Harper (Austin Peay) drove him in with an RBI-single to right field. Blake Beemer (Ball State) followed with a single down the right field line to put runners on first and third, and Sal Giardina (Lynn) doubled home Harper.

Andrew Parker (Towson) led off the second with a single to left center field, and was sacrificed to second base by John Howell. Tyler Ding (Tampa) came up later in the inning to drive in Parker with a bloop single into center field.

The Dogs held a 3-0 lead with All-Star starter Dan Smith (Monmouth) on the hill, but saw their hopes of a Game 2 victory evaporate as the game progressed.

Columbia scored seven unanswered runs, scattering the efforts across the remaining innings. Smith and James Simmons (Hardin-Simmons) combined for five earned runs in nine innings of work, as Simmons has now appeared in each of the Dogs’ seven playoff games.

Fayetteville stranded the bases loaded on two separate occasions, and did not pick up a base hit after the second inning of play.

The team will hope to rally tomorrow night, as the winner of Game 3 will be crowned the 2012 CPL Petitt Cup Champion.

For tickets to tomorrow night’s game at “The Swamp,” visit or call the business office at (910)-426-5900. Gates open at 6:00pm, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.