Pena’s Two RBI Night Powers Columbia to Victory

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies pitching held Myrtle Beach to a pair, which Erick Pena matched with a bases loaded walk and a sacrifice fly to even the series after a 3-2 win over the Pelicans Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach.

Omar Hernandez led off the fourth inning with a single to left that extended his hitting streak to eight games. The eight-game stretch is tied with Brett Squires for the longest hitting streak for a Fireflies player in 2023. Columbia’s backstop advanced to second on a wild pitch from Jackson Ferris before he came around to score on a Lizandro Rodriguez two out single up the middle that broke the scoreless tie.

After that Rodriguez single, Brennon McNair and Erick Pena both drew walks with two outs to which brought home Daniel Vazquez, who was hit by a pitch, to make Columbia’s lead 2-0.

In the eighth, Pena came to the plate again with one out and Rodriguez at third after drawing a walk and advancing on a wild pitch and a balk. Columbia’s right fielder hit a sacrifice fly to plate Rodriguez and push the Fireflies’ lead to 3-1.

The Fireflies struggled again with runners in scoring position, going 1-10, but Pena was a bright spot, drawing a bases loaded walk and hitting the sacrifice fly with runners threatening to drive in two of Columbia’s three runs. Pena now has an RBI in three-consecutive games for Columbia.

Myrtle Beach answered the run with a Cristian Hernandez solo shot in the home half of the eighth to again make it a one-run game. Hernandez has now homered in back-to-back games and has four homers on the season.

Ben Sears (S, 6) spun 2.2 innings to close out the game. He allowed just the one run to Cristian Hernandez as he held on to bring the Fireflies back to .500 in the second half.

Ben Hernandez turned in a strong outing in his first start since returning to Columbia. The righty spun four scoreless frames, while scattering five hits and a walk.

Chase Wallace (W, 3-1) was the first pitcher out of the pen for Columbia. The righty spun a season-high 2.1 innings, allowing one run. Parker Chavers tripled to lead off the sixth and then came around on a Cristian Hernandez sacrifice fly to right to cut Columbia’s lead to 2-1.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tomorrow night at 7:05 pm at Pelicans Ballpark. Columbia sends RHP Shane Panzini (1-7, 4.06 ERA) to the bump while Myrtle Beach counters with RHP Luis Rujano (0-1, 3.33 ERA).

The Fireflies return home to end the month with a six-game set against the Carolina Mudcats July 25-30. The homestand will have our Marvel Defenders of the Diamond Night Saturday the 29 and will include a Cayden Wallace Hero Bobblehead courtesy of SAFE Federal Credit Union July 28. Tickets for the homestand are available at FirefliesTickets.com.