Four-Run Third Leads Columbia to Victory
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fireflies utilized a four-run third inning where 10 Columbia hitters stepped up to the plate to beat the Augusta GreenJackets 5-4 Thursday evening at Segra Park. The Fireflies (21-15) broke through in the third inning. Tyler Tolbert led off the frame with a two-bagger that set
COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Fireflies utilized a four-run third inning where 10 Columbia hitters stepped up to the plate to beat the Augusta GreenJackets 5-4 Thursday evening at Segra Park.
The Fireflies (21-15) broke through in the third inning. Tyler Tolbert led off the frame with a two-bagger that set the tone for 10 Columbia batters to step up to the dish. Next, Felix Familia was hit by a pitch to put two aboard with no outs for Gage Hughes, who was in his first plate appearance as a Fireflies hitter. Hughes pushed a bunt back to the mound and GreenJackets (18-21) starter Tanner Gordon (L, 0-2). The righty launched the ball wide of first and Tolbert and Familia scampered home to put Columbia in front 2-1.
The party didn’t stop there. Diego Hernandez lifted a single to left to plate Hughes and advanced into scoring position with his eighth stolen bag of the season. That brought Darryl Collins to the plate where the outfield laced an RBI single to left. The hit was the first of three in the game for the lefty. Collins now has eight multi-hit games this season.
The outfielder came to the plate again in the fifth and launched his third homer of the season over the right field wall to give Columbia a 5-1 lead.
Delvin Capellan looked electric on the bump, spinning through four one-run innings while wringing up four batters. Then he handed the ball to Anderson Paulino (W, 3-2) who ate five innings, allowing three runs, two of which were earned so the Fireflies could hang onto a 5-4 victory.
Augusta’s designated hitter Bryce Horne broke things open with a one out solo home run in the second inning. It was the Florida-native’s first homer of the season.
Columbia starts the second half of their series with the Augusta GreenJackets tomorrow at Segra Park at 7:05 pm. Righty Ben Hernandez (0-2, 5.01 ERA) gets the ball for Columbia and RHP Jared Johnson (0-1, 10.13 ERA) will start for Augusta.
The first 1,000 fans who enter Segra Park tomorrow will receive a Fun-for-All t-shirt giveaway to start off our Negro League Celebration weekend. Gates open at 6 pm and shirts will go fast. To buy tickets to the game visit FirefliesTickets.com.