Early Errors Sink Fireflies in 8-3 Loss to Pelicans

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies committed a pair of errors in the first inning, allowing three unearned runs to score in an 8-3 loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Wednesday night at TicketReturn.com Field.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when Diego Hernandez came home from third on a Darryl Collins single up the middle, Anderson Paulino (L, 6-6) took the bump for Columbia (45-53). The righty walked the lead-off batter before Jordan Nwogu reached on an error to set up the inning.

Owen Cassie and Jacob Wetzel then hit back-to-back singles to put Myrtle Beach (49-49) on top 2-1 and the Pelicans never looked back. Ed Howard hit a two out, two RBI single to close out the inning and put Myrtle Beach on top 4-1.

The Pelicans added two more in both the seventh and the eighth innings to close out the victory. 8-3.

Columbia scored one run in the third, when Burle Dixon singled to score Tyler Tolbert, who doubled to lead-off the inning. In the top of the ninth, Riley Martin through a wild pitch that allowed Omar Hernandez to scamper home to score Columbia’s last run of the night.

The Fireflies have now lost 10 consecutive games spanning parts of three series to the Pelicans.

Tomorrow Columbia will be back in action against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Stadium. Southpaw Rylan Kaufman (2-3, 4.35 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and RHP Manuel Espinoza (4-6, 4.48 ERA) will go for the Pelicans.

The Fireflies return home to Segra Park for a six-game homestand with the Charleston RiverDogs August 31. It all starts with a Miller Lite $2 Tuesday where hot dogs, popcorn, fountain soda and 12 oz cans of Miller Lite are all only $2. You can purchase tickets at FirefliesTickets.com.