Late Runs Add Up in 12-3 Win

COLUMBIA, SC – A late grand slam from Brett Squires helped Columbia pile up the runs late in a 12-3 win over the Delmarva Shorebirds Thursday night at Segra Park.

Columbia flipped the script with two outs in the bottom of the second. Trailing 2-0 with no one on, Lizandro Rodriguez set the table, singling and stealing second. Dionmy Salon singled and then the shortstop Adam Crampton had a throwing error to home plate, allowing Rodriguez to score and Salon to move into scoring position. Jared Dickey drew a walk and the batters moved up a base on a wild pitch with Daniel Vazquez at the dish. Columbia’s shortstop served a single up the middle to score both baserunners and flip the script, pushing Columbia’s lead to 3-2. Next, Carson Roccaforte mashed his second double of the game to score Vazquez and make Columbia’s lead 4-2.

The Fireflies left everyone without a doubt after a six-run sixth inning. The Fireflies drew five walks off Jake Maruskin and Brett Squires put the game to bed with his first grand slam and the Fireflies first grand slam since June 25, to give Columbia a 12-3 lead.

Daniel Vazquez clobbered his third homer of the season, his second of the month over the foul pole in left as the Fireflies took a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

The Fireflies were able to add another run in the third. Brett Squires led the frame off with a double off the right-center wall and he came around on a fielding error from the second baseman Mac Horvath to bring Columbia’s lead to 5-2.

After a slow start, Columbia’s pitching was able to slow down Delmarva’s lineup. Henry Williams mitigated the damage against him, allowing only a pair of runs across four innings, stranding five runners in scoring position before he left the game.

Eduardo Herrera (W, 7-2) marked the difference for the Fireflies. The righty retired all six batters he faced, striking out three of them. After that, Mack Anglin offered a pair of one-run innings before Nicholas Regalado closed the game out with a 1-2-3 inning.

The Shorebirds jumped ahead early Thursday. First, Enrique Bradfield Jr. led off the game with a single, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and finally scored on a Tavien Josenberger sacrifice fly deep to center. In the second inning, the Shorebirds doubled their lead when Anderson De Los Santos sent his sixth homer of the season beyond the left field fence, making the score 2-0.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Delmarva Shorebirds tomorrow evening at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. RHP Ben Hernandez (1-2, 3.86 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Delmarva counters with RHP Carter Baulmer (1-0, 3.00 ERA).

Tomorrow night is our annual Grateful Dead night presented by The Howling Dog Collective at Segra Park. The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Grateful Dead t-shirt, we’ll be auctioning off Grateful Dead jerseys and donating the proceeds to charity, there’ll be a drum circle and we’ll also have a dazzling post-game fireworks display. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.