COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 31, 2018) - Beau Sulser locked down the Columbia Fireflies for 3.2 innings of relief in West Virginia's 3-1 victory Tuesday night at Spirit Communications Park.Sulser (5-7) charged in, forcing a pop-out to Oneil Cruz in a bases-loaded situation with one out in the seventh inning. Cruz then relayed a
COLUMBIA, S.C. (July 31, 2018) - Beau Sulser locked down the Columbia Fireflies for 3.2 innings of relief in West Virginia's 3-1 victory Tuesday night at Spirit Communications Park.
Sulser (5-7) charged in, forcing a pop-out to Oneil Cruz in a bases-loaded situation with one out in the seventh inning. Cruz then relayed a throw home to Raul Hernandez who applied the tag on Dionis Paulino to end the scoring threat. Sulser wrung up seven batters and stranded three inherited runners.
Hunter Stratton continued West Virginia's stretch of formidable starting pitching. He worked five innings, allowing just five Columbia (15-22, 49-55) batters to reach safely and one to score.
After Stratton finished, Drew Fischer came in for West Virginia (17-20, 54-49). Fischer struck out three batters, but left the game with the bases loaded after 1.1 innings of work. He walked three batters in between the sixth and seventh innings.
The difference in the game waited until the 10th inning. With Hernandez at second, Robbie Glendinning laced a triple into the right-center gap off Jeremy Payne (4-2) to give West Virginia the lead. Fabricio Macias added some insurance with a second triple to score Glendinning and give West Virginia a 3-1 lead.
Columbia hurried out of the gates in the bottom of the first. Matt Winaker drew a two out walk before Scott Manea pushed him in with a double he laced down the left field line to give Columbia a 1-0 lead.
West Virginia's bats came right back in the second though. Macias drew a walk and Jhoan Herrera was able to pop a floater down the left field line that landed fair and scored Macias. Herrera's double in his first at-bat with West Virginia tied the game at one heading into the second inning.
West Virginia concludes their three-game series in Columbia, S.C., Wednesday evening at 7:05 p.m. at Spirit Communications Park. Righty Sergio Cubilete (3-4, 5.23 ERA) starts on the bump for the Power, while the Fireflies counter with RHP Zac Grotz (1-4, 6.53 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on The Jock 1300 and 1340 AM, as well as online at www.wvpower.com and via the TuneIn Radio App and MiLB First Pitch App.
After tomorrow's contest in Columbia, S.C., West Virginia returns to Appalachian Power Park for a four-game set against the Augusta GreenJackets from August 2-5. The homestand includes a Thirsty Thursday, presented by Rock 105, Fireworks Friday, presented by Brickstreet Insurance and Electric 102.7, Back-to-School Night with a backpack giveaway courtesy of Todd Judy Ford, and a Kidz Sunday Funday. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.
