Squires Blasts Two Homers in 9-5 Loss

COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies used two homers from Brett Squires, but were unable to secure a win, as they fell 9-5 in front of 8,024 fans Saturday night at Segra Park.

Columbia came out with a strong rally in the eighth. Carson Roccaforte started the frame with a double and came around on a one out two bagger from Austin Charles. The next batter, Brett Squires, smoked his second homer of the ball game over the right field wall to cut Charleston’s lead to 8-5. Squires is the first Fireflies player since Erick Pena to homer twice in the same game. Pena accomplished the feat May 3 vs Myrtle Beach.

Columbia was able to jump out in front in the bottom of the second. First baseman Brett Squires led the frame off with his eighth homer of the season, a wall scraper over the right field wall to extend his on-base streak to 11 games.

The RiverDogs didn’t trail long. Charleston put together a six-run third inning, punctuated by Bryan Broecker’s first Carolina League hit, a three-run homer to the home run porch in left field. Charleston added another off Oscar Rayo (L, 3-2) in the fourth. Brayden Taylor led the frame off with a double and came around on Xavier Isaac’s second RBI single of the night giving Charleston a 7-2 lead.

Rayo finished the night working 4.2 innings and allowing a career-high 12 hits and 8 earned runs. Mack Anglin was the first arm out of the bullpen in the fifth. Anglin recorded four outs, only allowing an inherited runner to score before handing the ball off to Nicholas Regalado. Regalado worked a pair of scoreless innings to keep Charleston at bay. Marcus Olivarez closed out the game, allowing a single run in the ninth inning that came around on a balk.

Trevor Martin (W, 8-5) took home the victory, allowing just a pair of runs in the first five innings.

Later, Trevor Werner drew a walk, stole second to set the table for Jared Dickey, who hit an RBI single to put Columbia in front 2-0.

Columbia closes out their series with a 5:05 pm contest with Charleston tomorrow night at Segra Park. RHP Mauricio Veliz (3-5, 5.04 ERA) takes the bump for Columbia and Charleston counters with LHP Alex Ayala Jr. (1-4, 4.09 ERA).

The Fireflies wrap up their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tomorrow night with a Sunday Funday. Join us for a pre-game autograph session with the players and post-game kids run the bases presented by Bang Back Pinball Lounge.