Fireflies Play in Extras Again on Friday Night

COLUMBIA, SC (Fireflies) – The Fireflies needed extras again on Friday night at Spirit Communications Park, but this time the contest tilted the Tourists’ way. Columbia fell to Asheville, 5-2, in ten innings thanks to a Brendan Rodgers three-run home run in the top of the tenth. Patrick Mazeika forced bonus baseball with a game-tying solo bomb in the bottom of the ninth frame.

Columbia (11-22, 47-56) won its previous two games in extra-innings. On another note, in ten head-to-head matchups, the Fireflies and Tourists have gone to extras four times.

With Asheville (16-17, 50-52) in front, 2-1, in the ninth, Mazeika smacked the second pitch he saw against Alexander Guillen (W, 3-0) over the right-field fence to even the score. The long ball was Mazeika’s third of the season. 

Fast-forward to the top of the tenth, Mylz Jones and Terry McClure climbed aboard with singles. Those set up Rodgers for the go-ahead homer into the left-field berm off of Johnny Magliozzi (L, 3-4).

Back in the first frame, the Fireflies plated the game’s first run. After he loaded the bases, Asheville starter Devin Burke plunked Mazeika, which enabled Enmanuel Zabala to score.

The Tourists responded immediately in the top of the second inning. Following a Sam Hilliard base knock, Chris Keck smacked a home run of his own over the wall in right field. Asheville held its lead up until the ninth inning.

Columbia starter Andrew Church logged another solid outing. The righty pitched 6.2 innings, allowed just four hits and struck out six. Church retired the final 13 batters he faced. He handed the baseball over to Seth Davis, who retired the first five batters he faced in order. The left-handed reliever registered 2.1 frames and punched out six. Overall, Fireflies pitching recorded 14 strikeouts to tie a single-game season high.

Game three of the series starts at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night. Right-hander Gaby Almonte (1-3, 6.44) trots out to the mound for Columbia and faces righty Drasen Johnson (4-1, 3.88) for the Tourists.

You can watch the action on MiLB.TV starting at 7:00 p.m. and listen in on WGCV 620 AM and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app at 6:45 p.m.