Rough Start Leads to 7-4 Loss to ‘Jackets

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies stumbled out of the gates in a 7-4 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets Saturday night at Segra Park.

The GreenJackets didn’t wait long before inching ahead again. In the top of the second, Shane Panzini issued back-to-back walks to lead-off the inning before Dawson Dimon slapped an RBI single to score Cory Acton and give Augusta a 3-2 lead.

Augusta got some insurance in the sixth inning. After Acton hit a lead-off double, Dimon again brought him home with a two bagger of his own to bring the score to 4-2. Dimon eventually scored on a Just Janas RBI single to give Augusta a 5-2 lead before the end of the sixth.

The GreenJackets got one final, unearned run. Ben Sears moved quickly through Augusta’s order in the top of the eighth, getting the first two outs on four pitches, but then the Fireflies defense committed three errors on three pitches, allowing Ambioris Tavarez to score, moving Augusta’s lead to 6-2.

Sears finished the night with 2.1 hitless innings and handed the ball off to Marcus Olivarez who allowed one run in the ninth to finish out the game for Columbia.

Columbia’s bats got moving again in the eighth. Omar Hernandez singled on the first pitch of the inning before Austin Charles moved him to third with a double down the left field line. Brett Squires singled to score Columbia’s first run since the first inning and then Dionmy Salon grounded into a double play that scored Charles to move the Fireflies within a pair.

The Fireflies were able to match Augusta in the first frame. Lizandro Rodriguez led the game off with a single, then after a walk from Omar Hernandez he scored on a base knock to left from Austin Charles. Dionmy Salon was able to load the bases thanks to a throwing error from Francisco Floyd that allowed for Roger Leyton to tie the game with a sacrifice fly to center that plated Hernandez.

Augusta stormed out of the gates in the first inning. Ambioris Tavarez singled to start the game and scored on a Justin Janas triple. The third hitter of the game, Bryson Worrell singled to give Augusta a 2-0 lead before Columbia could get their first out of the inning.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow night at 5:05 pm at Segra Park. RHP Mauricio Veliz (1-3, 4.58 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Augusta counters with RPH Jared Johnson (2-2, 4.11 ERA).

Tomorrow is our Military Appreciation Night at Segra Park where we’ll honor active members of the military and gear up for our Independence Day game July 3. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.