Fireflies Rout Pelicans in 18-2 Slugfest

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies beat up on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, scoring six runs in the first and never looking back, beating the Myrtle Beach Pelicans 18-2 at Segra Park Saturday night at Segra Park.

Columbia’s (11-3) bats got started right away. After Jean Ramirez drew a lead-off walk, River Town singled and Carter Jensen drew a walk to load the bases with one out in the top of the first. After a run scored on a wild pitch, Guillermo Quintana and Kyle Hayes were both hit by a pitch to bring the score to 2-0 with the bases loaded. Next, Gary Camarillo poked a single through the left side of the infield to plate another pair of runs and put Columbia up 4-0. Joshua Rivera capped off the inning, driving a single to right that scored both Kyle Hayes and Gary Camarillo to put the Fireflies in front by half a dozen.

The bats didn’t stop there though, they added another two runs in the second inning. Enrique Valdez doubled to score Carter Jensen and then Quintana offered a single that scored the third baseman, increasing Columbia’s lead to 8-0. In the third, Columbia added another four behind Dayton Dooney’s third homer of the season and second of the series and another Guillermo Quintana knock.

While Pelicans’ (7-7) starter Jose Miguel Gonzalez (L, 6-1) didn’t make it through the first, Ben Kudrna (W, 1-3) spun a career-high five frames, to earn his first win of the season. It’s the first time that Kudrna, Frank Mozzicato or Shane Panzini, the three high school draftees selected in the first four rounds of the 2021 draft by the Royals have gone five innings or earned a win this season.

Gary Camarillo capped off the game with a two-run blast in the eighth that gave the two teams the final score of 18-2. The 18 runs are the most the Fireflies have scored this season and the most they’ve scored in a game since August 10, 2021 when they beat the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 21-5.

The Fireflies close out their series with Myrtle Beach tomorrow evening at 5:05 pm at Segra Park. Southpaw Frank Mozzicato (0-3, 6.31 ERA) gets the nod for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with righty Porter Hodge (4-2, 3.28 ERA).

Tomorrow is a Sensory Safe Sunday at Segra Park. The Fireflies will have quiet zones and will limit sound effects and flashing lights to provide a welcoming environment for everyone. It’s also a Sunday Funday. Two Fireflies players will sign autographs as gates open from 4-4:15 pm and then kids can run the bases following the game. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.