Columbia Rallies to Split Series with Augusta

Four-run sixth lifts Fireflies over GreenJackets in series finale

By John Kocsis Jr.

May 9, 2021

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Columbia Fireflies overcame a slow start to beat Augusta 9-4 and split the six-game series against the GreenJackets at SRP Park Sunday afternoon. Columbia (3-3) was trailing 4-1 entering the sixth inning, but then the Fireflies hit around relievers Tyler Owens and Brent Burgess (L, 1-1).

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Columbia Fireflies overcame a slow start to beat Augusta 9-4 and split the six-game series against the GreenJackets at SRP Park Sunday afternoon.

Columbia (3-3) was trailing 4-1 entering the sixth inning, but then the Fireflies hit around relievers Tyler Owens and Brent Burgess (L, 1-1). The inning began with a single up the gut from Darryl Collins. After an Owens strikeout, he couldn’t retire Brady McConnell or Jake Means, to create a bases loaded situation. Burgess entered the game and gave up a two-run base knock to Felix Familia to get the Fireflies within one of the GreenJackets (3-3). Then with one swing of the bat, Herard Gonzalez changed the fate of the game, driving a ball off the center field wall to score a pair and give the Fireflies a 5-4 lead.

The Fireflies first run came from Means, who hit his first home run of the season in the fifth inning. Not to be outdone, McConnell hit his own homer in the eighth to push the Fireflies in front 6-4. Means and McConnell finished the game a combined 4-8 at the dish, scored five runs and drew a pair of walks. Means scored again off a wild pitch from Kenny Wells to put the Fireflies in front 7-4 and he laced a double to left in the ninth to score Collins to make the final score 9-4.

Columbia’s order wasn’t done there though. Omar Hernandez led off the ninth with a triple prior to a Collins base knock to make the score 8-4.

The Fireflies bullpen rallied around starter Cruz Noriega, who allowed four earned runs in three innings while walking a trio of GreenJackets hitters. The bullpen entered the game and threw up nothing but goose eggs though, beginning with Adrian Alcantara (W, 1-1), who twirled 3.2 one-hit frames while setting down four hitters via the strikeout. Ismael Aquino (S, 1) was able to come in for the final seven outs to earn the Fireflies first save of 2021.

After the off-day Monday, Columbia welcomes the Charleston RiverDogs into town for a six-game series at Segra Park Tuesday-Sunday. Tuesday’s game will begin at 7:05 pm and fans who come out to the ballpark will receive a 2021 magnet schedule giveaway. Limited tickets are still available at FirefliesTickets.com.