Fayetteville Falls in Extras to Columbia
Columbia, SC – It was a frustrating end to Saturday night’s game for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (7-6) as the Columbia Fireflies (7-5) outlasted the Woodpeckers in extra innings, taking a 6-5 victory in 11 innings at Segra Park. The Fireflies took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the
Columbia, SC – It was a frustrating end to Saturday night’s game for the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (7-6) as the Columbia Fireflies (7-5) outlasted the Woodpeckers in extra innings, taking a 6-5 victory in 11 innings at Segra Park.
The Fireflies took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first after Levi Usher came in to score on a groundout from Daniel Vasquez. Fayetteville responded in the top of the third with Tyler Whitaker ripping a single to left to bring home Rolando Espinosa to tie things up. Moments later, Narbe Cruz yanked one down the left field line to chase in Whitaker on a double, giving the Woodpeckers the 2-1 edge.
The lead was short lived for Fayetteville. In the bottom half of the inning, Vasquez singled to right to drive in the tying run. However, Whitaker continued his strong performance with a two-run double in the following frame, giving him three runs batted in on the night and the Woodpeckers a 4-2 lead.
Once again, Columbia refused to go away. The Fireflies scraped across another run in the fourth against Fayetteville starter Nolan DeVos when Brennon McNair grounded out, scoring Junior Calderon to cut the deficit to one. Vasquez delivered another big swing in the bottom of the fifth, this time against reliever Walker Brockhouse, with a game-tying RBI single up the middle. Brockhouse had a pitch get away from him later in the inning and Vasquez dashed home to put Columbia ahead, 5-4.
Needing a break to tie things late, the Woodpeckers got it in the top of the eighth. John Garcia led off the inning with a double to left and moved to third with two outs. Espinosa then hit a high popup between the pitcher’s mound and home plate that fell between the Fireflies battery. Garcia scampered home to bring the score level once again.
Trey Dombroski, who took over for Brockhouse in the sixth, was outstanding in relief for Fayetteville. He held Columbia scoreless through four and two-thirds innings, including stranding a pair of runners in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. The lefty also set a new career high in strikeouts with eight.
The tenth inning was a stalemate between the two teams offensively as neither team could push across a run. The Woodpeckers were stifled again in the top of the 11th while Columbia was able to load the bases against Ian Foggo (L, 0-2) in the bottom half. Up came Usher with one out and he lifted a fly ball to left field deep enough to score Erick Pena and win it for the Fireflies.
The two teams conclude their six-game series Sunday afternoon with Columbia already clinching the series win. RHP Joey Mancini gets the start for Fayetteville while the Fireflies look to make it five of six with LHP Frank Mozzicato. First pitch is scheduled for 5:05 ET at Segra Park.