FLORENCE, S.C. -- Stranding 13 runners proved to be the undoing of the Edenton Steamers Friday night at Florence

The Clams suffered a 5-3 loss to the Florence RedWolves that brought a halt to a 12-game Edenton win streak that fell just one victory short of matching the longest in franchise history. The 2004 Steamers won 13 in a row.

Despite the defeat, the nation's top-ranked summer college league team (17-2 second half, 36-10) can clinch the North Division second-half championship Saturday when it concludes a four-game road trip at Wilson. The Steamers have an 8½-game lead over the second-place Tobs with nine games left to play.

While the Steamers' shot at a team record went by the wayside, second baseman Joe Wendle set a Steamers single-season mark for hits when he lifted his total to 75 with a 3-for-5 night at the plate. The previous record was 73. While extending his hitting streak to 19 games, Wendle also assumed the lead in the Coastal Plain League batting race as he upped his average to .417.

The Steamers, who return home to face Petersburg Sunday, held a 2-0 lead over Florence (22-21) going into the bottom of the second inning, but All-Star pitcher Brooks Fiala wasn't able to hold on to it.

Fiala (4-2) gave up single runs in the second and third and two in the fourth as the RedWolves went ahead to stay at 4-3.

Jordan Moore and David Teasley combined to hold Florence to just one hit over the final five innings. Moore was touched for an unearned run in the fifth on a walk, a wild pitch and an error by Vinnie Mejia at third base.

Bo Bigham had three hits and drove in two runs and Mejia hit a solo homer to account for the Steamers' scoring. Brett Christopher added two hits.

The Steamers, who out-hit Florence 10-6, did not help themselves as they left runners on base in nearly every inning. They left the bases loaded twice and had two runners on base in the ninth when the game ended.