Fireflies Get Series-Opening Win Over Rome Monday Night

ROME, GA (Fireflies) — The Fireflies snapped their three-game losing streak in impressive fashion on Memorial Day, coming back to defeat the Rome Braves, 5-1. Columbia scored five runs in the top of the seventh to pull ahead and never looked back. Luis Ortega’s three-run home run off of Josh Graham was the highlight of the frame.

Starter Andrew Church (W, 2-0) was just as masterful. The right-hander allowed one run over 7.2 innings – tying P.J. Conlon for the longest start of the season in the process. He also struck out six batters and won his second start since being transferred to Columbia’s roster on May 24.

Church and Rome (20-31) starter Oriel Caicedo (L, 1-1) were locked in a pitchers’ duel for the first six innings. Caicedo faced the minimum through six before running into trouble in the seventh. The lone score that Church allowed was when Wigberto Nevarez doubled home Justin Ellison in the second.

Besides Ortega, Pat Mazeika and Dash Winningham drove in the other two runs for Columbia (26-25).

Craig Missigman also hurled an inning and a third of scoreless relief. His consecutive scoreless inning streak has now reached 12.2 frames.

The series continues against Rome on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Left-hander Kevin Canelon (3-3, 3.20) toes the rubber for the Fireflies and faces Braves righty Touki Toussaint (1-4, 6.39).

You can listen to the action on WGCV 620 AM, 105.1 and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 7:00 p.m.