Fermin Twice the Hero in Walk-Off Win
COLUMBIA, SC - Fortunately for the Fireflies, 19-year-old Edgardo Fermin strolled to the plate in the two most tense moments in Tuesday's game against West Virginia. The shortstop delivered twice. Fermin homered to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth and then whacked the game-winning base hit in
COLUMBIA, SC - Fortunately for the Fireflies, 19-year-old
The Fireflies had just cut into a 3-0 deficit with a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. The following frame, Fermin led off against Power reliever
Fermin and the Fireflies quickly fell behind again in the top of the ninth, though.
Columbia (23-21) refused to crumble and the club punched back again in the home half of the frame. First, Power manager Wyatt Toregas called upon lefty
So Manea sat at second base as Fermin stepped back up to the plate. With the count full, Schlabach hurled home and Fermin smoked a base hit into shallow center field. Manea swung around third as
Fermin - who finished with three hits - was soon mobbed by his teammates behind second base. Columbia found itself in another heart-thumper: nine of the last 10 games the club has played in have been decided by two runs or fewer. Better yet, 16 of Columbia's 20 games in May have been decided by three runs or fewer.
The Fireflies won in dramatic fashion on Tuesday after falling in game one of the series to West Virginia in 11 innings.
The Power built a 3-0 lead in the third and fourth innings before the home team sliced into the deficit in the seventh. Manea delivered a two-run double that brought Columbia back within a run. The Fireflies scored all five of its runs in the final three innings.
In addition to Fermin, Winaker (2-for-3, 2 R, BB) and Manea (3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI) each finished with multi-hit games.
Columbia and West Virginia turn around quickly and meet at 11:05 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning at Spirit Communications Park. Right-hander