Six-Run Rally in Ninth Lifts Columbia Over Lexington

LEXINGTON, KY - Columbia faced a familiar foe in Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Monday night. The Fireflies trailed Lexington by four entering the top of the ninth. What came next was the stuff of Legends (pun intended). A furious six-run rally propelled Columbia to an 8-6 victory over the Southern Division's first-half champions.
Starters Simeon Woods-Richardson and Jon Heasley traded zeros on the scoreboard early, and the game had all the makings of a classic pitchers duel. Columbia (3-2, 27-44) finally broke the ice in the top of the fourth on an RBI base hit from Hayden Senger . The run-scoring single would not be the only clutch moment from the Ohio native on the evening.
Lexington (1-4, 38-36) followed with a pair of runs a half-inning later. Eric Cole put the Legends on the board with a base knock to right, scoring Nathan Eaton from second. Chase Vallot produced a sac fly to right a batter later that brought Reed Rohlman home.
The Fireflies struck back in the fifth. Ronny Mauricio singled with one out, then scored on a particularly kooky play. Chandler Avant grounded a ball to Legends shortstop Jeison Guzman. Guzman fielded the bouncer cleanly and fired to his double play partner, Brhet Bewley, at second. Bewley was in position at the bag, but the sun shining overhead forced him to avert his eyes from the incoming throw. The ball sailed right by Bewley into the right field bullpen and Mauricio chugged around the bases to score from first, tying the game.
The tie score didn't last long. Jackson Lueck singled to start the bottom of the fifth. Jose Caraballo batted behind Lueck, and blasted a two-run homer (1) to left to regain the advantage. Lexington added another tally in the inning on a seeing-eye RBI single from Eaton.
Meanwhile, Heasley was tossing a gem for the Legends. The Texan struck out a career-high 12 Columbia hitters through six innings. 10 of the 12 punchouts came on swings and misses.
Bryce Hutchinson (W, 3-5) gave his best effort to match Lexington's starter. The 20-year-old allowed just one run in 3.2 innings of relief. The lone score came in the bottom of the eighth when Cole flied out to center. Rohlman tagged from second to third on the play, and Mauricio's relay throw from short bounced into the stands. Rohlman was given an extra base by rule and touched home. The run gave the Legends a 6-2 lead entering the final frame.
Lexington tabbed Ted Cillis (L, 0-1) with the task of recording the final three outs. The southpaw loaded the bases with one away for Mark Vientos. Vientos responded by singling into left, plating Gerson Molina and Mauricio. Manager Pedro Lopez brought Juan Uriarte off the bench as a pinch-hitter for Chase Chambers . Uriarte smacked a grounder to Bewley up the middle, but the ball took a bad hop and kicked into center field. Rather than a game-ending double play, the hopper brought home Avant from second and cut Lexington's lead to one. Taylor Lane then entered the game as a pinch-runner for Uriarte at first. With runners at the corners and one out, Wagner Lagrange belted a fly out to the warning track in right. The ball was deep enough for Vientos to score easily from third and tie the game.
Shervyen Newton batted next for the Fireflies. The switch-hitter had yet to reach base safely during the affair. Newton worked an eight-pitch walk to extend the inning. The free pass brought up Senger and advanced the go-ahead run to second. Senger fell behind early in the at-bat, but battled his way to a 2-2 count. He followed by ripping a double off the wall in right-center. The two-bagger brought home Lane and Newton, and put his team on top for good. Allan Winans (S, 1) pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
Columbia continues its series against Lexington on Tuesday. RHP Willy Taveras (4-5, 4.86) will start for the Fireflies. First pitch is at 7:05 ET. You can listen to the action live at FireFliesLivestream.com or watch at MiLB.TV.