Back-to-Back Homers Not Enough in 10-4 Loss
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies kicked-off the fourth inning with back-to-back homers, but after that, it was all RiverDogs as Columbia lost 10-4 Sunday at Segra Park. Columbia jumped out to front in the fourth. Spencer Nivens led off the fourth with his second homer of the series to tie
COLUMBIA, SC – The Fireflies kicked-off the fourth inning with back-to-back homers, but after that, it was all RiverDogs as Columbia lost 10-4 Sunday at Segra Park.
Columbia jumped out to front in the fourth. Spencer Nivens led off the fourth with his second homer of the series to tie the game 3-3. Next, Brett Squires launched his 10th round-tripper of the season, his fourth of the season and his third in the last two nights. It was the first time Columbia hit back-to-back homers since Edgar Martinez and Jaswel De Los Santos hit back-to-back knocks May 8, 2022 in the second inning against Delmarva.
The homer moved Squires to 17-45 during his 13-game on-base streak for the Fireflies that began on July 30.
Ryan Cermak closed out his statement game for the Charleston RiverDogs with his second three-run homer of the night in the top of the ninth, scoring Tre’ Morgan and Colton Ledbetter to put Charleston in front 10-4. Cermak finished the night 4-4 with two homers and six RBI.
Carlos Colmenarez was able to launch the RiverDogs’ second three-run homer of the night of Mauricio Veliz in the sixth. Colton Ledbetter and Ryan Cermak led the frame off with back-to-back singles to set the table for the blast the gave Charleston a 6-4 lead heading into the final third of the game.
The RiverDogs added a run in the seventh inning. Braydon Taylor led the frame off with a double, advanced to third on a Tre’ Morgan groundout and scored off the bat of Xavier Isaac, who hit a sacrifice fly to left field to advance Charleston’s lead to 7-4.
The RiverDogs took the lead in the top of the fourth. Xavier Isaac started the fray with a double and Colton Ledbetter drew a walk to set the table. The third batter of the inning, Ryan Cermak, smoked his fourth homer of the season beyond the right field fence to put Charleston in front 3-2 before Columbia recorded the first out of the inning.
Columbia broke through in the first. Omar Hernandez led off the frame with a pop-up that got past shortstop Carlos Colmenarez and gave the Fireflies a lead-off double. The next batter, Carson Roccaforte was able to smash a triple off the wall in center to plate Hernandez and put the Fireflies in front. Later, Brett Squires hit a sacrifice fly, plating Roccaforte and leaving Columbia with a 2-0 lead following the first inning.
The Fireflies open up a six-game set with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Both teams have yet to name their starters.
Columbia continues their homestand Tuesday at 7:05 pm at Segra Park. It’s a Miller Lite $2 Tuesday, where fans can enjoy $2 hot dogs, popcorn, fountain sodas and 12 oz cans of Miller Lite at the ballpark. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.