Charleston 7 - Columbia

COLUMBIA, SC – Walter Rasquin posted the first three-hit game of the season on Sunday, but Columbia still fell short in the finale to Charleston. Despite 10 hits, the Fireflies lost to the RiverDogs by a final of 7-2 at Segra Park.

Rasquin’s rampage included the first triple of the year. The Venezuelan also singled twice later in the game. Rasquin and the Fireflies just couldn’t overcome Charleston’s  (3-1) five-run third inning. All five runs scored against Columbia (1-3) starter Christian James (L, 0-1) yet only two of those were earned (the Fireflies commit two errors in the frame).

PC - Ed Delany

The home team cut into the fairly large deficit in the fifth. After Mark Vientos and Hayden Senger reached to the begin the inning, Wagner Lagrange walked to load the bases for Zach Rheams. The Texan looped a flair over third baseman Nelson Gomez’s mitt and plated two. Those were the only runs on Sunday for Columbia.

Charleston’s lead stretched back to four with a sixth-inning run and then to five when Brandon Lockridge homered to begin the seventh.

In addition to Rasquin, three other Fireflies reached base safely three times: Vientos (2 BB, single), Lagrange (2 BB, single) and Rheams (2 singles, BB). Columbia finished Sunday’s game 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position.

Columbia begins a new series on Monday at 7:05 ET. The Fireflies welcome the Rome Braves to Segra Park. Tenth-rated Mets prospect Thomas Szapucki is expected to make his 2019 debut on the mound.