HIGHLIGHTS: Fireflies Lose to Drive Saturday Night
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies PR) — Outfielder Joe Tuschak became the first Firefly to launch a home run at Spirit Communications Park on Saturday night, but his blast wasn’t enough to take down Greenville — Columbia came out on the wrong end of a 5-3 score.
The Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, product has hit safely in six of his seven games this season. Tuschak’s batting average has risen to .304 and the lefty has driven in five runs.
Greenville (6-4) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning off of Fireflies starter Kevin Canelon (L, 0-1). The first two batters reached and Michael Chavis drove them in with one swing of the bat.
Tuschak’s long-ball catalyzed Columbia (5-5) in the third, though. After the home run, Ivan Wilson and Tyler Moore walked. Then, for a second straight night, J.C. Rodriguez plated a run — his single scored Wilson to tie the score up, 2-2.
The Drive used three solo homers in the fourth, sixth and ninth frames to pad its lead to three runs.
The heart of Columbia’s batting order was due up, though, in the bottom of the ninth. Vinny Siena stroked a single to left but the left fielder, Kyri Washington, let the baseball bounce over his glove and roll all the way to the wall. Siena wound up at third base and scored when David Thompson singled. Thompson extended his hit streak to 10 games.
The Fireflies went down quietly the rest of the inning. Columbia can split the four-game series with Greenville with a victory on Sunday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Manager Jose Leger calls on right-hander Tyler Badamo (1-0, 1.50) to tangle with Drive lefty Matt Kent (0-0, 1.50).
You can listen to the action on WGCV 620 AM and 105.1 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 1:45 p.m.
