Charleston 3 - Columbia 2

Press Release:

CHARLESTON, SC – For a third straight day, Columbia and Charleston were locked in a tie game in the ninth inning. Despite Columbia’s pitchers striking out an eye-popping 15 batters, it was Charleston that came away with a 3-2 series-clinching win.

With runners at first and second in the bottom of the ninth, RiverDogs second baseman Oswaldo Cabrera roped a single to right field that brought in the game-winning run. It was the home team’s second walk-off win in the series. All four games of the series were decided by two runs or fewer and just five total runs.

Fireflies starters Tony Dibrell was superb on Thursday, striking out a career-high 11 batters in 5.1 innings. The right-hander scattered just five hits and surrendered two runs. Dibrell has now tallied 31 punch-outs in just 19.2 IP. Equally as impressive was Jeremy Vasquez extending his on-base streak to 20 straight games. The first baseman did so with a single in the ninth.

For the fourth time this series, though, Charleston (10-11) scored first (and did so within the first two innings of every game). This time, Leonardo Molina plated a runner with a base hit to center. Another runner attempted to score but was thrown out at the dish by Quinn Brodey.

Columbia (12-9) bounced back in the fourth. Raphael Gladu singled to begin the inning and moved to second base when Blake Tiberi walked. The pair of runners moved up a bag when Matt Winaker reached on an error. Columbia had the bags full with no out, but it was reliever Braden Bristo who aided the club. His wild pitch enabled Gladu to score and the Fireflies tied the game.

After Charleston pulled ahead 2-1 with a sixth inning run, Columbia evened the score again in the eighth. Scott Manea started the frame with a well-struck single and advanced to second two batters later after Gladu stroked a base hit. Then the wackiness ensued. Tiberi was at the plate and bounced a Brian Trieglaff (W, 2-1) pitch towards shortstop Wilkerman Garcia. The infielder fielded and shuffled towards second base, tapped the cushion but threw wild to first. His throw wound up in the first base dugout and allowed Manea to score and tie the game.

Columbia begins a three-game series in Augusta on Friday. First pitch between the Fireflies and GreenJackets is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at SRP Park.