Two Out Magic Leads Fireflies to 6-3 Win

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Fireflies scored four runs with two outs to upend the Fayetteville Woodpeckers 6-3 at Segra Stadium Saturday night.

Columbia broke ahead with some two-out magic in the top of the sixth inning. Jose Varela came on in relief for the Woodpeckers and retired the first two batters he faced. After that, JC Vanek reached on a throwing error from Varela. Next, Connor Rasmussen singled to center and Vanek and Rasmussen both advanced a base on the play to put runners at second and third for Roni Cabrera. The Fireflies nine hole batter lifted a single to right field to plate Vanek and cut Fayetteville’s lead to 3-2.

After that, Henry Ramos slugged a base knock to center that scored Vanek and Cabrera to give the Fireflies their first lead of the game 4-3. In the seventh inning, Hyungchan Um drew a bases loaded walk that scored Yandel Ricardo and Vanek lined a sacrifice fly to score Jhosmmel Zue to give the Fireflies insurance and a 6-3 lead.

In the start, Michael Lombardi struck out five in four innings plus a pair of batters. That gave Lombardi a Single-A-best 68 strikeouts on the season. The righty gave up three runs over the four innings before passing the ball to the bullpen.

Dash Albus (W, 2-1) worked 1.1 innings around a single hit to earn the victory. The win is Albus’ 11th win with the Fireflies, which passes Jordan Humpfreys for the most wins in franchise history. After that, Hunter Alberini worked two scoreless innings before passing the ball to Brandon Herbold to finish the eighth before Jhon Reyes (S, 3) came on to close out the game.

The Woodpeckers charged ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third, Carlos Caura lined a single to right to plate Hector Salas and Camilo Diaz to give the Woodpeckers a 3-1 lead.

Fayetteville got the scoring started in the bottom of the third. Camilo Diaz drilled his fifth homer of the season to put the Woodpeckers in front 1-0.

Columbia was able to counter in the top of the fourth. Hyungchan Um shot a single to left to start the inning. He stole second and advanced to third on a flyout to the warning track from Connor Rasmussen. After that, Roni Cabrera notched a flair single to left to score Um and tie the game 1-1.

Columbia closes out its series with the Fayetteville Woodpeckers tomorrow night at Segra Stadium at 5:05 pm. RHP Kendry Chourio (2-0, 1.46 ERA) toes the rubber for Columbia and Fayetteville counters with RHP Aubrey Smith (1-3, 6.00 ERA).

The Fireflies return home for a six-game series with the Delmarva Shorebirds at Segra Park from June 9-14. It’s Copa Weekend at Segra Park, which this year includes a Futbol Fiesta Thursday July 11, a soccer scarf giveaway July 12 and a car show and pig roast Sunday, July 14. Buy your tickets now at FirefliesTickets.com.