Fireflies Avoid No-Hitter with Bunt Single

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies were shutout for the first time this season, falling 8-0 to the Charleston RiverDogs. Jaswel De Los Santos broke up the no hitter with a bunt single with two outs in the fifth inning.

It was Logan Workman (W, 2-0) who stymied the Fireflies with four hitless innings before Patrick Wicklander spun four scoreless innings of his own, allowing three total hits. Neraldo Catalina closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

The RiverDogs bats started early and rolled all the way through the third inning. It started with a Carson Williams solo homer in the bottom of the first, but then continued with two runs scoring on three triples in the second from Mason Auer, Freddvil Chavez and Dawson Dimon. The RiverDogs took a 5-0 lead in the third frame from an Auer RBI that drove home Willy Vazquez.

All five runs were charged to starter Luinder Avila (L, 0-2) who made it through three innings while allowing seven hits. Avila’s ERA sits at 15.88 after a pair of starts.

The bullpen locked things down after. John McMillon tossed a scoreless frame, his third of the season, before getting the ball to Marlin Willis, who worked two scoreless. Shane Connolly closed out the eighth, but allowed a trio of runs in the process off a homer from Dimon, who finished with two hits and a pair of RBI from the nine hole and later, a single from Dru Baker.

Columbia continues their series with the RiverDogs tomorrow night at 6:05 pm at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark. Righty Eric Cerantola (0-1, 10.80 ERA) climbs the hill for Columbia, while RHP Sandy Gaston (0-1, 13.50 ERA) will start for Charleston.

The Fireflies will return home April 19 where they’ll play the Down East Wood Ducks for the first time. Down East will be in the Soda City for six games, including a t-shirt giveaway on Friday and a post-game fireworks show Saturday. For more information, visit ColumbiaFireflies.com.