Fireflies Drop Series Finale 7-1 to Charleston

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fireflies left the tying run in scoring position in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, but then gave up five runs in the ninth to fall 7-1 to the Charleston RiverDogs Sunday evening at Segra Park.

After Cruz Noriega (L, 3-2) offered five strong innings for Columbia (29-27), the Fireflies found themselves in a 2-1 rut. Garrett Hiott started the scoring off. The centerfielder for the RiverDogs (40-18) roped a lead-off triple in the third and scored on a sacrifice fly from Alika Williams. Charleston inched ahead 2-0 when Hiott drove Alexander Ovalles home with a base knock in the top of the fifth. The center fielder added a two-run homer in the ninth to close out his three RBI evening.

Columbia scored their lone run in the fifth. Omar Hernandez and Herard Gonzalez started the frame off with back-to-back singles before Felix Familia bounced into a double play that scored Hernandez from third.

Patrick Smith stayed hot out of the pen, working two scoreless innings before giving the ball to Chase Wallace, who rebounded from a tough relief outing July 6 where he allowed five runs in 0.2 innings. Then Walter Pennington struggled in the ninth, allowing five runs before he got out of the game.

Following the off-day Monday, the Fireflies travel to Myrtle Beach, where they’ll open up a six-game series with the Pelicans. The first game begins at 7:05 pm at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Stadium.