Two Out Magic Guides Fireflies to Win
COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies scored five runs with two outs, including three in the sixth inning to walk away 6-4 winners Wednesday night against the Charleston RiverDogs at Segra Park. The sixth inning was the difference maker for Columbia, who again did their damage with two outs. Lizandro
COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies scored five runs with two outs, including three in the sixth inning to walk away 6-4 winners Wednesday night against the Charleston RiverDogs at Segra Park.
The sixth inning was the difference maker for Columbia, who again did their damage with two outs. Lizandro Rodriguez got things churning with a two out single to score Daniel Vazquez. Next, Matt Wyatt (L, 2-6) walked Dionmy Salon and Jared Dickey for Carson Roccaforte to slice a single to right field, scoring Rodriguez and Salon before being tagged out trying to stretch the single to a double. As the Fireflies left the field, Columbia had a 6-3 lead heading to the seventh.
It didn’t take long for the Fireflies to rally. In the bottom of the first, Carson Roccaforte walked and stole second to set the table. With two outs, Brett Squires came to the plate a hit an RBI base knock to level the game 1-1.
Squires would come through again for Columbia in the third, pulling his seventh homer of the season to the right field corner to push Columbia’s lead to 3-2.
Ben Hernandez (W, 1-1) earned his second-consecutive quality start, as he worked six frames, allowing three runs off seven hits to keep Charleston at bay. Mack Anglin (H, 4) was lights out, retiring all six batters he faced and punching out a pair before giving the ball to Chase Wallace (S, 1) who allowed one run in the ninth, but held on to collect his first save since June 15, 2021.
The next inning, the bats kept moving. Lizandro Rodriguez hit a one out single and stole second on the next pitch. The two out magic continued for Columbia. Jared Dickey had a two out base knock to plate Rodriguez from third to give Columbia their first lead of the game 2-1.
It didn’t last long though. In the top of the third, Xavier Isaac hit a moonshot to right field, his 13th of the season to tie the game 2-2. Isaac had one bit of magic left in his bat, hitting a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to tie the game 3-3. He finished the night 3-4 with 3 RBI.
Charleston took an early lead in the first. Cooper Kinney banged a double off the left field wall and came around on an Xavier Isaac base knock up the middle to break the scoreless tie.
Columbia continues their series with the RiverDogs tomorrow night at Segra Park. RHP Shane Panzini (2-8, 4.13 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Charleston counters with LHP Ian Seymour (0-0, 2.13 ERA).
Tomorrow night is Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, where fans can enjoy $1 soft drinks, $2 domestic drafts and $3 craft drafts and cocktails. It’s also Area 51 Night a Segra Park—so the drink specials won’t be the only thing that’s out of this world at the ballpark tomorrow. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.