4/8/17

Columbia 7 - Augusta 0



COLUMBIA, SC – The strikeouts came early and often for Fireflies starter Jordan Humphreys. The right-hander struck out nine over 5.2 innings and led Columbia to a 7-0 win over the GreenJackets at Spirit Communications Park. Friday’s win was Columbia’s first shutout victory since last August 23.

Dash Winningham helped spark the offense once again. The first baseman drove in four runs for a second straight evening. His first RBI occurred in the third frame. Augusta (0-2) starter D.J. Myers (L, 0-1) walked Luis Carpio to begin the inning. Two batters later, Blake Tiberi singled, moving Carpio over to third base. Next, Winningham grounded out to first base but it left more than enough time to allow Carpio to score from third.

Columbia’s (2-0) lead stretched to 4-0 the following inning. Tiberi drew a walk with the bases loaded which forced in the Fireflies second run. Winningham later scorched a two-run double to the left-center field gap. The home team took a 4-0 lead into the fifth.

That was where Humphreys’ (W, 1-0) dazzling outing would end. In addition to the nine punch-outs, the righty scattered just three hits. Relievers Austin McGeorge and Joe Zanghi blanked the GreenJackets the rest of the way (combing for four strikeouts, too).

The Fireflies tacked on three extra runs in the eighth. Two scored off of a fielding error committed by left-fielder Jacob Heyward, but the other was plated by Winningham once more. His single put the home team ahead, 7-0.

Jacob Zanon had himself a day at the plate as well. The outfielder came to the dish four times and wasn’t retired – a walk, two singles and a triple.

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