Fireflies Lose to West Virginia, 7-6
COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – Despite a six-run fifth inning in which the Fireflies sent 11 men to the plate, Columbia dropped the series finale to West Virginia, 7-6, in 10 frames. The Fireflies notched nine hits on Tuesday night and batted around in an inning for a third straight game.
The home team went into the fifth trailing 6-0. West Virginia (33-31, 68-65) had scored in every half inning, but it was finally the Fireflies’ turn. Vicente Lupo led off with a walk and Joe Tuschak doubled him to third base. The next two batters recorded outs, making what Columbia (27-37, 63-71) subsequently accomplished even more impressive. Power reliever Yunior Montero lost his way and walked the next two hitters, which brought in the home team’s first run.
With the bases still loaded, Patrick Mazeika smoked a base hit into right field which scored two more. All of a sudden, the Fireflies had cut the six-run gap in half. Dash Winningham followed with a two-run double and he later scored when Luis Ortega singled to left field. Columbia had rallied all the way back to tie the game at 6-6.
Relievers Nicco Blank (3.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 K) and Seth Davis (2.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K) helped keep the game knotted through the ninth inning.
The two teams needed an extra frame to decide the winner; it was Columbia’s tenth extra-inning game of the season (5-5). Tyler Bashlor (L, 3-2) allowed a lead-off double to Daniel Arribas and Jordan George’s single plated the go-ahead run. It would prove to be the difference as the Fireflies went down in order in the bottom of the tenth. West Virginia righty Scooter Hightower (W, 1-0) picked up the victory.
The Power jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Logan Hill launched his 10th home run of the season. The visitors continued to score a single run in each of the next four frames.
Wednesday night at Spirit Communications Park is the middle game of the three-game series. Columbia sends right-hander Luis De Los Santos (0-0, 4.50) to the hill to face West Virginia righty Dario Agrazal (7-12, 4.53).
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV or listen in on WGCV 620 AM and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.
