Clutch Pitching Leads Columbia to Two Big Wins
Published on August 20, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
COLUMBIA, SC - The Fireflies defeated the GreenJackets twice on Saturday night, using outstanding pitching to squash Augusta at Spirit Communications Park. Columbia took down its Southern Division foe, 5-1, in the first game (resumed from Friday night) and 2-0 in the nightcap.
After Friday's game was postponed due to rain after one scoreless inning, it was picked back up at the start of the second inning on Saturday. Nabil Crismatt (W, 1-1) replaced Kevin Canelon on the hill and shut down Augusta (33-21, 69-55) for eight innings. The righty allowed just one eighth-inning run and scattered three hits. The eight innings logged was a career-high for Crismatt. He picked up his first win in Columbia (21-34, 57-68) in the process.
A big third inning was all the home team needed to secure the win. The Fireflies scored all five of their runs in that frame, which began with a Dale Burdick walk. Then Tucker Tharp bounced a Michael Connolly (L, 11-5) pitch slowly up the third base line. Dillon Dobson fielded but threw the baseball wide of the first-base bag - wide enough that Burdick advanced two bases on the error and scored. J.C. Rodriguez was then plunked - placing runners at first and second - and next, Patrick Mazeika singled to load the bases. Eudor Garcia knocked in two with a base hit and Dash Winningham followed with a run-scoring single of his own. Columbia plated one more when Vicente Lupo bounced into a double play.
In game two, Seth Davis, Craig Missigman (W, 2-4) and Johnny Magliozzi (S, 4) combined to blank the GreenJackets. The trio surrendered just five hits. Davis made his first professional start and punched out a pair of batters in 3.1 innings.
Winningham provided the lone boom in the second frame. Mazeika drew a one-out walk off of starter Luis Pino (L, 2-1) and two batters later, Winningham shattered his team-best ninth home run over the right-center field wall.
Mazeika, by the way, extended his on-base streak to 11 straight games.
Columbia and Augusta meet up again on Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Right-hander Chase Ingram (6-9, 4.63) and lefty Grant Watson (3-6, 4.30) are the scheduled starters.
You can watch the action on MiLB.TV starting at 5:00 p.m. or listen in on WGCV 620 AM and 96.3 FM, ColumbiaFireflies.com and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 4:45 p.m.
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