Swaggerty's go-ahead single vaults Power to 3-2 win

CHARLESTON, W.V. (August 16, 2018) - Travis Swaggerty's go-ahead infield single in the eighth inning backed another quality start from Oddy Nunez as West Virginia pulled ahead of the Fireflies late and claimed a 3-2 win Thursday night at Appalachian Power Park.
The complexion of the game changed as Columbia starter Marcel Renteria's evening came to an end. Luke Mangieri roped a one-out double to start the offense in the eighth. After that, Rodolfo Castro laced a double to left that scored Mangieri and tied the game at two. The next batter, Swaggerty, then drove a two-hopper to second. The center fielder sprinted down the line to beat the throw from Giovanny Alfonzo to Jose Brizuela. While the first baseman's attention was diverted at first, Castro rushed home from second on the play to score and give West Virginia (24-27, 61-56) its first lead of the series at 3-2.

Nunez tossed seven innings, allowing two runs on seven hits for his second consecutive quality start with the Power.
Elvis Escobar (2-1) earned the win after working a scoreless eighth inning. John Pomeroy (S, 1) came on in the ninth and shut down the Fireflies (21-30, 55-63) for his first save in the South Atlantic League.
West Virginia's offense struggled early against Renteria (3-3). He tied his season-high with 7.2 innings and struck out a season-best nine batters, but ended up ceding the winning run in the eighth on Swaggerty's hit and Castro's heads-up baserunning. 
Columbia tallied both of its runs in the top of the fourth inning. Matt Winaker led off the inning with his 11th home run of the season over the right-field wall to break the scoreless tie. After that, Brizuela lined a base knock to left before Edgardo Fermin repeated the feat. With runners on first and second, Alfonzo doubled down the left-field line to score Brizuela and push the Fireflies ahead 2-0.
The Power struck back in the fifth as Dylan Busby smacked his first career triple off the right-field wall with one down in the inning. Raul Hernandez then rolled over a ball to short that plated Busby to cut the Columbia's lead to 2-1.
West Virginia now contends with the Columbia Fireflies in a rubber match Friday night at Appalachian Power Park, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Hunter Stratton (5-5, 4.57 ERA) toes the rubber for the Power, while the Fireflies counter with righty Yeizo Campos (1-4, 4.23 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.
Friday night is WOWK-TV Night, where anchors and reporters will greet fans as they enter Appalachian Power Park. There will also be postgame fireworks, courtesy of Electric 102.7. The home stretch is highlighted by a Trevor Hoffman figurine giveaway as a part of the Power's Wheelers Weekend celebration August 18. The first 1,000 fans will receive the figurine, courtesy of Charleston Building and Construction Trades Council. For tickets and more information, call the Power at 304-344-2287 or visit wvpower.com.