The Columbia Fireflies had really struggled offensively in the first two games of their series with the Charleston RiverDogs, scoring just one run combined. However, they were able to double that number in the very first inning of Saturday night’s game as four tw0-run innings led the Fireflies to an 8-4 victory.

Yefrey Ramirez started for Charleston and this was not to be his night. After getting the first out of the first inning, Vinny Siena singled off of Ramirez and J.C. Rodriguez doubled to right field to put both runners in scoring position. A wild pitch then scored Siena to make it 1-0. A walk to Patrick Mazeika kept the inning going, and Milton Ramos followed by laying down a perfect bunt that he beat out for a single. Rodriguez scored on the play and it was an early 2-0 lead for Columbia.

In the third Columbia would extend their lead. Mazeika singled to get it started, but Ramirez retired the next two batters and it looked like he would leave the inning unscathed, but Ivan Wilson had other ideas. He drilled a shot over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season to make it 4-0.

In the fourth, the Fireflies would put two more up on the board. Kevin Kaczmarski singled with one out and Siena followed with a single that put runners at the corners. Rodriguez was up next and he lined a base hit into left that scored Kaczmarski to make it 5-0. Mazeika followed with a single that loaded the bases and that would be it for Ramirez. Hobie Harris came in to retire the final two hitters of the inning, but Milton Ramos’ sacrifice fly brought home one more run to make it 6-0.

In the bottom of the fourth the RiverDogs got one of those runs back. Kyle Holder singled to start the inning, but was forced out on a ground ball by Hoy Jun Park. Next up was Jhalan Jackson, who grounded a double into left field. Park ran hard with the crack of the bat and came all the way around to score to make it 6-1.

In the bottom of the fifth, Charleston cut a little bit further into the deficit. Kendrall Coleman singled with one out, and that was followed by a single by Eduardo Navas that moved Coleman to third. A base hit by Thairo Estrada brought home Coleman it was a four-run game.

That would not last for long, as the Columbia Fireflies extended their lead back to six runs in their very next at-bat. Kaczmarski led off the top of the sixth with a single and moved to third following a balk and a wild pitch. Two batters later Rodriguez doubled to score Kaczmarski easily. A double by Ramos brought home Rodriguez and it was 8-2 Columbia.

It looked like this was going to be an easy victory for the Fireflies, but there is no quit in these ‘Dogs. In the bottom of the eighth, Charleston got two of those runs back. Park walked to start the inning against Nicco Blank. Blank retired the next two batters but a double by Connor Spencer brought home Park to make it 8-3. After Leonardo Molina was hit by a pitch, Coleman singled to score Spencer to make it a four-run game once again.

Sadly, that would be all the runs that Charelston could muster, as they would fall 8-4. Joe Shaw (3-2) earned the victory for Columbia, allowing 7-hits and 2-runs in 7-innings of work. He would strike out 10. Johnny Magliozzi earned his third save of the season. Ramirez (1-1) took the loss.

A whole lot of Columbia Fireflies players had big nights, but none bigger than Rodriguez. The Fireflies 3B was 4-5 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. Mazeika and Siena each went 3-4. Siena scored 2-runs and Mazieka scored a run. Ramos drove in three.

For Charleston, Estrada, Holder, and Coleman each had two hits apiece. Park scored two runs.

These two teams will close out their series tomorrow. Columbia will send Chase Ingram (3-2, 3.00) to the mound to face Daris Vargas (3-0, 2.05) for the Charleston RiverDogs. Game time is 5:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier