Days after winning their first ever playoff game in their postseason debut, the Columbia Fireflies clinched a 2-1 win in game two of their series with Myrtle Beach to clinch a trip to the Carolina League Championship Series.
17-year-old Kendry Chourio earned the win, working five innings for the Fireflies, and allowing one run off four hits. Chourio also struck out four Pelican batters before handing the ball to the bullpen.
Taking the lead in the bottom of the fifth, the Fireflies got a runner in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but couldn’t get the run. Yandel Ricardo then set the table with a double to the right-center gap in the fifth, and Asbel Gonzales moved him to third with an infield single. Later, Luke Nowak broke the game open punching a single up the middle to score the pair and give the Fireflies a 2-1 lead.
The Pelicans got on the board in the top of the third when Justin Stransky was hit by a pitch and was then replaced by Christian Olivo on a fielder’s choice. Following this, Ty Southisene singled to drive in Olivo for the Pelicans’ only run of the game.
Fireflies pitcher Dash Albus was the first arm out of the pen, working two scoreless innings with four strikeouts around one hit and one walk before getting the ball to Bryson Dudley who worked two scoreless innings in relief and closed out the night with a strikeout of 2024 second rounder Cole Mathis to win the Midlands first playoff series since 2004.
With the win the Fireflies advance to the Carolina League Championship Series, which begins on the road Sunday. The Fireflies then return home to Segra Park Tuesday night, where they will face the winner of the Fredericksburg Nationals and Lynchburg Hillcats series for game two at 7:05 p.m.