Bosacker Quality Start Not Enough in 3-2 Loss

CHARLESTON, SC – The Fireflies couldn’t take advantage of the pitching staff’s first quality start of the 2024 season as they fell 3-2 in walk-off fashion to the Charleston RiverDogs Wednesday Night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park.

Nicholas Regalado (L, 1-1) tossed a scoreless eighth and fanned the first two Charleston hitters he faced in the ninth before the RiverDogs got started. Carlos Colmenarez and Narciso Polanco drew back-to-back two out walks before Odalys Peguero roped a base hit to right, plating Colmenarez and ending the ball game with a pair of outs in the home half of the ninth.

Ethan Bosacker continued his stretch of dominance on the hill to start the 2024 season. Columbia’s starter worked the club’s first quality start of the season, allowing one hit and one run across six innings. The righty walked one and punched out seven RiverDogs before giving way to the bullpen.

He was matched by Charleston’s pitching staff though. Gary Gill Hill spun five one-run innings before the bullpen worked four innings allowing a single run to keep their offense ahead or tied for the whole ball game.

The Fireflies bats got going in the top of the eighth inning. Dionmy Salon led the frame off with a single. After Brennon McNair sacrificed the backstop to second with a bunt, Erick Torres slapped a single to right, scoring Salon and tying the game 2-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, after Doug Kirkland recorded the first pair of outs, Angel Mateo popped a double to left field that should have been caught. Next, Noah Myers and Carlos Colmenarez drew walks to load the bases. After that, Kirkland issued a wild pitch, allowing Mateo to score and break the tie.

The Fireflies hopped on the scoreboard in the fifth. Austin Charles started the inning with a walk, then stole his seventh bag of the season with one out to put himself in scoring position. Next, Jhonny Perdomo dribbled a base knock to right that allowed Charles to churn around and tie the game 1-1.

Charles singled in the seventh to keep his seven-game hitting streak alive. Over the stretch, he is 11-24 (.458) with one homer and 10 RBI.

Charleston broke the scoreless tie in the second frame. Angel Mateo lifted his second round-tripper of the season to left to put the RiverDogs in the driver seat 1-0.

Columbia continues their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tomorrow night at 7:05 pm at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park. The Fireflies send RHP Emmanuel Reyes (1-0, 6.30 ERA) to the hill and Charleston counters with RHP Santiago Suarez (1-0, 0.00 ERA).

The Fireflies return home April 23 for a six-game set with the Augusta GreenJackets at Segra Park. Friday, April 26 will be the inaugural Carolina Grits game at Segra Park. We’re celebrating with a Grits bobble spoon giveaway. Get your tickets at ColumbiaFireflies.com.