Fireflies Game Notes: July 11 vs. Augusta (Game 87)
July 11, 2019 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (10-10, 34-52) vs. Augusta GreenJackets (11-9, 47-41)
RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson (1-8, 4.86) vs. RHP Gregory Santos (1-4, 2.84)
Thurs., July 11, 2019 - Segra Park (Columbia, SC) - First Pitch 7:05 p.m. - Game 87
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: The Fireflies were shut out on Wednesday and lost the middle game of the series to Augusta, 2-0. Starter Tylor Megill picked up where the pitching staff left off on Tuesday night and only allowed one run over five innings. It was one run too many, though. Megill struck out six and walked no one in the defeat.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?: The Fireflies aim for the series win on Thursday. It would be the second series win this month (July 1-3 vs. Greenville) and the third straight series in which Columbia didn't lose.
WHAT A SERIES: Columbia is now 4-5 vs. Augusta this season with all games decided by three runs or fewer. The season series has been extraordinarily close with the Fireflies scoring 27 totals runs to Augusta's 28. Over the last two seasons, Columbia is 17-17 against the GreenJackets, 23 of the 34 games have been decided by three runs or fewer and Augusta holds a slim total run advantage over the Fireflies, 116-111.
ROARING OFFENSE: Columbia has recorded 63 hits over its last six games and is now hitting .283 as a team since the all-star break (20 GP). That's the highest second-half batting average in the SAL and by a wide margin:
1. Columbia, .283 ... 2. Kannapolis, .261 ... 3. Hickory, .259
Hayden Senger is also on a season best nine-game hit streak, too.
DID YOU SAY STREAK?: It seemed impressive enough when Fireflies catcher Hayden Senger tallied five straight multi-hit games from June 22-26. Now a second Firefly has done it. Shervyen Newton went 2-for-4 on Wednesday and has also notched five straight multi-hit games. Newton is raking right now - he's hitting .545 (12-for-22) over those last five games with 3 2Bs, 1 HR and 6 RBI.
THE REDHAWK IS RED-HOT: Former Miami (OH) RedHawk Hayden Senger leads the SAL in hitting post all-star break with a .462 average. Senger is also tied for second in the league in doubles (9) since the start of the second half. Senger has hit safely in 16 of the 18 games he's played in in the second half and reached safely in 17. The catcher was batting .180 at the all-star break (40 GP) and his average now sits at .277 - that's an astonishing near-100 point raise of his average over just 18 games.
SECOND-HALF SLUGGERS: Columbia's offense has totally ignited in the second half. Here are the top hitters by batting average:
1. Hayden Senger - .462 (30-for-65), 18 GP, 7 R, 9 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K
2. Wagner Lagrange - .347 (26-for-75), 19 GP, 15 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 16 RBI
3. Mark Vientos - .328 (21-for-64) 17 GP, 11 R, 7 2B, 2 HR, 16 RBI
South Atlantic League Stories from July 11, 2019
- RECAP: 'Birds Outlast Pesky Power for Sweep - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Power Comeback Falls Short in Extras to Delmarva - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hippies Held in Check After Quick Start - Asheville Tourists
- Woods-Richardson Leads Fireflies to Series Win over Augusta - Columbia Fireflies
- Errors Sting Jackets, Columbia Takes Series with 5-2 Win - Augusta GreenJackets
- Medina Overpowers Braves Early, Dogs Fall in Pitchers' Duel - Charleston RiverDogs
- Fireflies Game Notes: July 11 vs. Augusta (Game 87) - Columbia Fireflies
- Suns Finale with Legends Postponed - Hagerstown Suns
- Hagerstown Suns: Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Promo Preview: Return of the Llamas, and More - Hickory Crawdads
- Game Notes (July 11) - Charleston Dirty Birds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
