Columbia Beats Mudcats to Win Division Championship
June 19, 2025 - Carolina League (CarL)
Carolina Mudcats News Release
ZEBULON, N.C. - The Columbia Fireflies clinched the Carolina League South Division Championship for the first half of the season on Thursday night at Five County Stadium as they beat the Carolina Mudcats 6-3 in a rain-shortened seven inning game.
Columbia (36-30) struck in the opening inning, scoring twice against Mudcats starter Wande Torres (L, 0-5). The Fireflies pushed across their opening run when Torres airmailed a throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt and later in the frame, a double-steal led to the second run of the inning for the Fireflies and a 2-0 advantage.
Carolina (36-28) got on the board in the bottom of the first against David Shields (W, 2-1) when Eric Bitonti hit his team-leading ninth home run of the season to pull the Mudcats to within one at 2-1.
However, defensive miscues would be a theme for Carolina as the Mudcats committed a season-high six errors which contributed to Columbia scoring twice in the third and once in the sixth to build on their lead.
Trailing 4-1 in the fourth inning, the Mudcats pulled closer when Jose Anderson went deep, his second home run of the season which cut the deficit to 4-2.
The Mudcats came to bat in the seventh down 6-2 and mounted a rally loading the bases with one out but managed just one run on a Luis Lameda sacrifice fly. Dash Albus (S, 4) got the final out of the inning to preserve the 6-3 final margin.
The second half of the season gets underway Friday night at Five County Stadium with Carolina giving the ball to RHP Melvin Hernandez (4-4, 2.05) while Columbia sends RHP Hiro Wyatt (1-2, 5.01) to the mound. First pitch is set for 6:30 P.M.
The Carolina Mudcats are the officially licensed Class-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. First established in 1991, the Mudcats have provided affordable family fun for over 30 years at Five County Stadium in Zebulon, N.C. The 2025 season will celebrate the 35th year of the Carolina Mudcats. Follow the Mudcats online at www.carolinamudcats.com, and on social media at www.facebook.com/carolinamudcats, www.x.com/carolinamudcats, www.tiktok.com/@carolinamudcats and www.instagram.com/carolinamudcats.
Carolina League Stories from June 19, 2025
- Fireflies Are Headed to the Postseason - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Win Final Game of First Half But Fall Short of Playoff Berth - Charleston RiverDogs
- Shorebirds Turn the Tables, Win 5-4 - Hickory Crawdads
- Kannapolis Dealt Seventh Consecutive Loss in 5-1 Defeat Thursday - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Salem Plates Two Late Runs But Comes up Short against Fredericksburg - Salem Red Sox
- Fayetteville Erases Four-Run Deficit to Down Myrtle Beach, 5-4 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Shorebirds End First Half with Come-From-Behind Win in Hickory - Delmarva Shorebirds
- FredNats End First Half on a Good Note with 5-3 Win - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Columbia Beats Mudcats to Win Division Championship - Carolina Mudcats
- Nova Added from ACL Brewers; Welch to 7-Day IL - Carolina Mudcats
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 6.19 at Carolina - Columbia Fireflies
- RiverDogs Announce Kids Eat Free Promotion for June 25 - Charleston RiverDogs
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