Columbia Wins Series Behind Church's Arm
July 22, 2016 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
HAGERSTOWN, MD - Right-hander Andrew Church did it again. Columbia's starter held Hagerstown to just one run over seven innings and helped the Fireflies to a 4-1 series-clinching win. Columbia took two of three games from the Suns, its first series win in two and a half weeks.
Church (W, 4-0) has started four games for the Fireflies and has won them all. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native has surrendered just two earned runs in 28.2 innings pitched in a Columbia (8-19, 44-53) uniform.
Oddly enough, the lone run for the home team came in the first frame. Ian Sagdal - the second batter for the Suns - homered over the right-center field wall. And that was it. Church then threw six scoreless innings and Craig Missigman (S, 2) struck out four over the final two frames.
Columbia pulled in front in the third. Hagerstown (17-11, 60-38) starter Joan Baez (L, 6-7) faced the minimum over the first two innings but Joe Tuschak drew a walk against the righty to begin the next frame. He scored all the way from first base on Milton Ramos' double. Ramos later scored when Suns first baseman Matt Page committed a throwing error attempting to field Enmanuel Zabala's ground ball up the line. The visitors led, 2-1.
Five innings passed before Columbia added its insurance. With Tucker Tharp and Dash Winningham aboard, Tyler Moore cranked a triple off of the 30-foot center field wall that plated both runners.
The Fireflies go for their first three-game win streak of the second half on Saturday in Lexington, Kentucky. Columbia starts a four-game series with the Legends at 6:35 p.m. at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Manager Jose Leger hands the ball off to southpaw starter Kevin Canelon (5-7, 3.10) to face Lexington righty Scott Blewett (5-9, 4.50).
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 6:15 p.m.
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