Fireflies Score Early, but Fall 6-5 In Extras 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Fireflies jumped out early, but fell to the Hickory Crawdads 6-5 in 10 innings at Segra Park Friday night. The loss ended Columbia’s five-game winning streak.

The Crawdads pulled ahead in the top of the 10th. Yenfri Sosa (L, 2-1) retired the first two batters of the inning, before he surrendered a homer to Juan Sulbaran to give the Crawdads a 6-4.

In the home half of the inning, Luke Nowak singled to plate the inherited runner, Tyriq Kemp to kick-off the inning. After that, Frank Martinez (S, 2) retired the side in order to preserve the 6-5 victory for the Crawdads.

Jake Jekielek (W, 7-2) worked two scoreless innings to earn the win for Hickory and push the game to extras.

Columbia got on the board in the second frame. Stone Russell drew a walk and advanced to third on a double from Hyungchan Um. After that, Hickory’s catcher, Juan Sulbaran, threw the ball into left field while trying to throw behind Russell, which allowed both runners to advance and gave Columbia a 1-0 lead.

The next inning, Tyriq Kemp and Luke Nowak set the table thanks to a pair of walks, after that, a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third. Ramon Ramirez grounded into a 3-2 fielder’s choice that scored Kemp to double Columbia’s lead and then Aidan Deakins issued a wild pitch to score Nowak to make it a 3-0 game.

Blake Wolters worked four one-hit innings without allowing a run in his first start since May 31. He walked four batters before passing the ball to Augusto Mendieta. Mendieta allowed a pair of runs in as many innings. After that, Yimi Presinal (BS, 1) worked the seventh inning and allowed a pair of runs.

Nick Conte stemmed the tide. The righty allowed a lead-off triple kick-off the eighth. After that, he forced a ground out and then got back-to-back strikeouts to close out the frame with a zero and keep it a 4-4 contest. He threw up a scoreless ninth as well to get the ball to extras.

The Fireflies continue their series with the Hickory Crawdads tomorrow night at Segra Park at 6:05 pm. LHP Darwin Rodriguez (0-1, 3.86 ERA) takes the ball for Columbia and Hickory counters with RHP Kamdyn Perry (1-5, 6.33 ERA).

Tomorrow is Bluey at the Ballpark presented by Scout Motors! Fans can meet their favorite cartoon dogs Bluey and Bingo during the game and we’ll finish the night with a dazzling fireworks show. Buy your tickets now at FirefliesTickets.com.