SAL1 Columbia Fireflies

Columbia Rallies Late to Win Charleston Series

Published on July 6, 2016 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release


COLUMBIA, SC - For the second straight night, the Fireflies broke a tied score late in the game and beat the RiverDogs, this time, 4-1, on Wednesday. Vicente Lupo, Enmanuel Zabala and J.C. Rodriguez each picked up an RBI in the eighth inning to seal the series victory.

Columbia (5-9, 41-43) had work to do first in the seventh frame, trailing at the time, 1-0. Kevin Kaczmarski worked a two-out walk to put the tying run aboard. Soon, Charleston (5-8, 47-36) lefty Nestor Cortes served an inside fastball to Jeff Diehl. The Fireflies clean-up man ripped the heater into the right-center field gap to plate Kaczmarski and even the score.

Eudor Garcia started Columbia's home half of the eighth with a base knock. Lupo smacked in the go-ahead run with a two-bagger into the left-center field alley. After Natanael Ramos dropped down a sacrifice bunt to push Lupo to third base, Zabala sliced a triple down the right field line off of RiverDogs' reliever Garrett Mundell (L, 0-2) to provide insurance. Then Rodriguez used a fielder's choice to score Zabala.

The scoring surges in the seventh and eighth innings helped Witt Haggard (W, 2-4) and Alex Palsha (S, 14) finish the game with ease out of the bullpen.

Not to be forgotten, Fireflies starter Bryce Beeler shined in his Spirit Communications Park debut. The righty from Knoxville, Tennessee, logged a career-high seven innings and did not walk a single RiverDog. The only blemish against Beeler was a solo home run from Charleston's Jhalan Jackson in the top of the second frame.

Columbia hits the road and heads to Augusta on Thursday for a four-game series. Manager Jose Leger hands the ball to right-hander Gaby Almonte (1-1, 4.29) for game one of the set. Almonte faces GreenJackets lefty Domenic Mazza (2-1, 4.43). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m.

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.

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South Atlantic League Stories from July 6, 2016


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