Gamble’s Two RBI Game Not Enough, Fireflies Fall in 11

Top Storylines

• Sean Gamble records two RBI in the loss. The outfielder now has RBIs in eight of his last nine contests.

• Josh Hammond goes 3-4. He now has 120 hits, just six shy of Ronnie Mauricio for the most hits in a single season in franchise history.

• Michael Braswell strikes out the only batter he faces to strand two inherited runners to keep Columbia in front in the fourth inning.

WILSON, N.C. — Sean Gamble had a two RBI game, but it wasn’t enough to push the Fireflies to victory as the team fell 5-4 to the Wilson Warbirds in 11 innings Wednesday night. Gamble now has RBI in eight of his last nine games.

The Fireflies gave up the lead in the eighth inning, but Wilson never had sole possession of the lead until the walk-off fielder’s choice gave them the victory. It was the Warbirds 12th walk-off win of the 2026 season.

Play-by-Play

Cesar Espinal (W, 1-0) stiffled the Fireflies in the top of the 11th inning to give the Warbirds a chance to earn their professional baseball leading 12th walk-off win of the year.

In the bottom of the 11th, Brady Ebel was placed at second and advanced to third on a shallow flyout to center off Randy Ramnarace (L, 0-5). Next, Juan Ortuno grounded into a fielder’s choice and Ebel won the race home on a bang-bang play to win the game 5-4.

Wilson tied the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. After Andy Basora (BS, 6) struck out the first two batters he faced, he allowed a single to Frederi Montero, walked Pedro Ibarquen and then allowed a single from Kyle Jones to score Montero and tie the game 3-3 to eventually force extras.

The Fireflies and Warbirds traded runs in the 10th frame. Henry Ramos was the placed runner to start extras and he came around on a one out infield single off the bat off Sean Gamble. In the home half, Jose Anderson was the placed runner. He advanced to third on a ground out, then scored off a second slow ground out to match Columbia 4-4.

The Fireflies broke the stalemate in the top of the first inning. Henry Ramos drew a walk and Josh Hammond singled to put runners on the corners. With two outs, the two executed a double steal to plate Ramos and crack the score column.

The lead didn’t last long. Rylan Mills clobbered a solo shot to tie the game in the bottom of the second inning with one out against the Warbirds.

In the fourth, Columbia jumped in front again. Sean Gamble drew a lead-off walk, then stole second and third before coming around on a balk from Enderson Mercado to give Columbia a 2-1 advantage.

Michael Lombardi spun 3.2 innings in the start and tallied five strikeouts to give him 114 on the season. Lombardi now stands alone with the fifth-most strikeouts in a single season in franchise history. The righty allowed two runs and had two runners on the base paths when he gave the ball to the bullpen. After that, Michael Braswell faced only one batter and he struck him out to end the scoring threat for the Wilson Warbirds.

On-Deck

Columbia continues their series with the Wilson Warbirds tomorrow at Wilson Ballpark at 7:05 pm. RHP Ryan McDonagh (2-3, 5.29 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Wilson counters with RHP Jarrette Bonet (6-5, 5.06 ERA).

The Fireflies close out their home slate with a 12-game homestand from August 18-30. The two-week stretch is riddled with fun promotions like Synchronized Hippos Night Thursday, August 20, Faith & Family Night with a pre-game Sam Wesley Concert Saturday, August 22, Harry Potter Night with a Mason Wizard Bobblehead giveaway, Saturday, August 29 and Fan Appreciation Night Sunday, August 30. Don’t miss out on the last chance to catch the Fireflies at Segra Park this season. Tickets are available at FirefliesTickets.com.