Fireflies Win 11-Inning Thriller in Augusta
AUGUSTA, SC – The Fireflies won their second 11-inning game of the season 3-2 against the Augusta GreenJackets at SRP Park Tuesday night. The pitching staff didn’t allow an earned run in the win. In the top of the 11th, Austin Charles laced a triple to left field to score
AUGUSTA, SC – The Fireflies won their second 11-inning game of the season 3-2 against the Augusta GreenJackets at SRP Park Tuesday night. The pitching staff didn’t allow an earned run in the win.
In the top of the 11th, Austin Charles laced a triple to left field to score the inherited runner Omar Hernandez to put Columbia in front again, this time 2-1. The RBI was Charles’ first since June 9. Next, Daniel Vazquez singled to right to score Charles and gave the Fireflies insurance and a 3-1 lead.
Cory Acton singled to score Ambioris Tavarez in the 11th, making it a one-run contest. Eduardo Herrera (S, 2) tossed a wild pitch to put the tying run at third and the winning run in scoring position, but ended the game striking out Jair Casanova to lock down his second save of the season.
The Fireflies bats rallied behind Hayden Dunhurst in the 10th to score the first run of the game. Dunhurst doubled up the line to plate the inherited runner Hayden Dunhurst. Dunhurst’s two-bagger was the first extra-base hit of the game.
Augusta tied it in the bottom of the 10th on a throwing error from catcher Omar Hernandez. Tyler Collins tried to steal third and came around on the error with two strikes and two outs against Ambioris Tavarez, who ended the inning with a strikeout from Cooper McKeehan (W, 8-1). McKeehan punched out four in his two innings.
Ben Hernandez had a career game for the Fireflies. The righty tossed a career-best six scoreless innings to earn his first quality start of the year. He wrung up six GreenJackets hitters while allowing only two hits before turning it over to the bullpen.
The second Ben to enter, Ben Sears spun two scoreless innings in relief to keep the Fireflies shutout alive into the ninth.
Augusta’s starter matched Hernandez. Luis Vargas offered 6.1 scoreless innings before he left the hill following a 13-pitch walk to Lizandro Rodriguez. Estarlin Rodriguez ended the inning with a strike him out, throw him out double play. He loaded the bases in the eighth, but induced a fly out to Brett Squires to keep the game scoreless before Augusta used their third pitcher of the night.
The Fireflies continue their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow evening at SRP Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Shane Panzini (1-8, 4.29 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Augusta sends RHP Jhancarlos Lara (2-6, 5.15 ERA) to the bump.
Columbia returns home for a 12-game homestand vs the Charleston RiverDogs and Myrtle Beach Pelicans August 8-20 at Segra Park. Join us for Nickelodeon’s PAW Patrol Night August 12, a Ben Kudrna Bobblehead night August 18 and Faith & Family Night August 19. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.