Fireflies Drop 12-6 Slugfest in Charleston

COLUMBIA, SC – Despite scoring in the top of the first, the Fireflies bats weren’t able to keep pace with the RiverDogs offense, who tallied 17 hits as Columbia fell 12-6 Friday night at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark.

After Juan Carlos Negret doubled home Herard Gonzalez in the top half of the frame, Cruz Noriega (L, 4-3) allowed five RiverDogs (54-21) to score five runs in the bottom of the first. Charleston would end up scoring nine runs (eight earned) before Noriega exited the game after three innings of work.

The bats didn’t give up though. Columbia (36-39) hung their own five-spot in the fifth to bring the Fireflies within three. It started with Jose Marquez’s first homer in a Fireflies uniform. After that Ian Seymour lost the strikezone, walking four consecutive batters. Steffon Moore came in and an error allowed a pair of Fireflies runs to score to push the score to 9-6.

It didn’t last long though. In the home half of the inning, Charleston answered with three more runs to drain any hope of a comeback Columbia may have had.

Tomorrow, Columbia and Charleston will engage in a doubleheader beginning at 4:05 pm at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Ballpark. The Fireflies will toss RHP Matt Stil (2-2, 5.49 ERA) in game one and LHP Emilio Marquez (4-1, 1.34 ERA) in game two and Charleston will opt to use LHP Jose Lopez (3-5, 5.19 ERA) in game one and have yet to announce their game two starter.

Following this trek to Charleston, the Fireflies will play 12 games in 13 days at Segra Park beginning Augusta 3. During that period, they will play the Myrtle Beach Pelicans and Fayetteville Woodpeckers. During the stretch, the team will celebrate Copa De La Diversión, the 13th in the Upside Down and Faith and Family Night. For tickets, visit FirefliesTickets.com.