Fireflies Revel in Slump-Breaking Win

COLUMBIA, SC – The Columbia Fireflies staved off a late rally to beat the Augusta GreenJackets 7-6 to snap the Fireflies’ 11-game losing streak Sunday evening at SRP Park.

The Fireflies took the lead for the final time in the fourth. Darryl Collins blasted a single up the gut to score Peyton Wilson for a second time in the game to put Columbia up 6-5. Enrique Valdez homered to right the next inning to add an insurance run.

The bullpen had it figured out Sunday evening. After Chase Wallace allowed a single run in 2.2 innings, Anthony Simonelli (W, 1-0) went three perfect innings before handing the ball to Patrick Halligan (S, 1) who closed out the game with two scoreless innings prior to giving up a single run in the ninth to make it a one-run ball game.

The bats started early again Sunday. The Fireflies had their first two hitters reach base safely before Darryl Collins punched a sacrifice fly to center to score Peyton Wilson to break the scoreless tie. Prior to the end of the inning, Burle Dixon scampered home on a wild pitch that put Columbia in front 2-0.

It was a rough start for Rylan Kaufman though. The southpaw walked five batters and allowed four earned runs after recording just one out as Columbia surrendered the lead early again. This game was different for the Fireflies though.

In the second inning, the Fireflies added another pair of runs to tie the game, first from a Jean Ramirez single that plated Dillan Shrum and then from a Peyton Wilson sacrifice fly that scored Enrique Valdez. Shrum would ground out in the third to score Herard Gonzalez, but the GreenJackets tie the lead in the home half on a Christian Robinson single to score Landon Stephens to knot it up 5-5.

Following the off day, Columbia has one homestand remaining in the 2021 campaign starting Tuesday. There’s plenty of fun in store, including a Miller Lite $2 Tuesday, White Claw Wednesday Day and Bud Light Thirsty Thursday. In addition to the drink specials, the Fireflies will pull out all the stops for their promotions, hosting Grateful Dead Night Friday and Wands and Wizards Night Saturday. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.