Fireflies Drop Finale 6-1; Head Home Tuesday

Columbia’s elimination number down to one heading into final three games

By John Kocsis Jr.

June 18, 2023

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies allowed three runs in the third, which led to a 6-1 loss to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers Sunday afternoon at Segra Stadium. The knock-out punch came in the third inning. Fayetteville sent nine hitters to the plate, eeking out four hits, two of which were doubles

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies allowed three runs in the third, which led to a 6-1 loss to the Fayetteville Woodpeckers Sunday afternoon at Segra Stadium.

The knock-out punch came in the third inning. Fayetteville sent nine hitters to the plate, eeking out four hits, two of which were doubles and a pair of walks to plate four off Mauricio Veliz. It gave the Woodpeckers a 5-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, Zach Cole smashed his 10^th homer of the season beyond the right field wall off Eduardo Herrera to give Fayetteville a 6-1 lead. It was the first time this season a Fireflies reliever gave up a homer to the first batter they faced in a game.

Columbia was able to strike first for the first time this series. Jean Ramirez led the game off with a single to right before swiping his 18^th bag of the season to move into scoring position. Next, Omar Hernandez laid down a perfect bunt single to place runners on the corners and Austin Charles came up and drilled a sacrifice fly to left to give the Fireflies a 1-0 lead.

The lead didn’t last long. In the second inning, Dauri Lorenzo reached base on a one out single and then came around to score off the bat of Roilan Machandy to tie the game 1-1.

Columbia heads back home after the off day to begin a series with the Fredericksburg Nationals at 7:05 pm. The Fireflies send RHP Steven Zobac (1-0, 1.56 ERA) to the bump while Fredericksburg has yet to name their starters for the series.

The Fireflies will return home to Segra Park June 20 and they’ll stay home through July 3 as the Fireflies battle the Fredericksburg Nationals and the Augusta GreenJackets. The homestand will house our Negro League Celebration Weekend where we’ll have a special appearance from Larry Doby Jr. amongst others and will conclude with our Independence Day Celebration with a massive fireworks show. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.