Columbia topped the BlueClaws 9-1 on Friday as the teams have split the first two games in their series. ---
Columbia topped the BlueClaws 9-1 on Friday as the teams have split the first two games in their series.
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COLUMBIA, SC - Columbia used a two-run second and a three-run third on Friday en route to a 9-1 win over the BlueClaws at Spirit Communications Park.
The teams have now split the first two games of their three-game series, with the BlueClaws (1-1/42-29) seeing their three-game win streak snapped. Columbia (1-1/35-34) has now taken four of the six meetings between the teams this year.
Scott Manea went 4-4 and scored three runs to lead the Fireflies offense. Columbia had 15 hits in the game and finished one off the BlueClaws season high of 10 runs allowed.
Columbia opened the scoring in the second inning on a SAC fly from Matt Winaker. Edgardo Fermin's RBI single gave the Fireflies a 2-0 lead. They would extend their lead in the third innong on a two-run double by Jeremy Vasquez and Winaker's second SAC fly of the game.
Lakewood starter Spencer Howard (3-8) came out after 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks and no strikeouts.
The Fireflies added two more runs off Connor Brogdon in the sixth, both scoring on Raphael Gladu's RBI single. Hansel Moreno tacked on two more with a two-run double off Jonathan Hennigan in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Lakewood's lone run came in the first on a groundout by Jake Scheiner.
Trailing 5-1 in the fourth, Nick Maton just missed a three-run home run that would have brought Lakewood within 5-4, but it was called foul by plate umpire Ben Fernandez. Maton and BlueClaws hitting coach Tyler Henson were both ejected arguing the call.
Quincy Nieporte had three hits for Lakewood, his second straight three-hit game to begin the second half. Josh Stephen, however, went 0-4 and saw his six-game hitting streak come to a close.
Every Fireflies starter had a hit in the game, while Gladu, Vasquez, Winaker, and Moreno each drove in two runs.
The teams will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Saturday night at 6:05 pm. LHP Damon Jones (5-2, 2.05) starts for the BlueClaws opposite RHP Joe Cavallaro (7-1, 2.06).
- BlueClaws -
