Fireflies surrender 14 hits in setback

Columbia fell victim to an Asheville power surge Friday, falling 6-2 to the Tourists at McCormick Field. Jeff Diehl and Ivan Wilson combined for three extra-base hits in the ballgame, but the home team overwhelmed the Fireflies with 14 base knocks.

Columbia (35-33) faced a 3-0 deficit in the top of the fifth inning when Milton Ramos singled off of Asheville starter Trey Killian (5-3). Diehl then blasted his team-best sixth home run over the right-center field wall to cut the Tourists lead to one run. Both of Diehl’s hits on Friday went to right field.

Ivan Wilson followed Diehl’s lead with two doubles, as the Louisiana native went 2-for-3 at the plate.

Fireflies starter Gaby Almonte (1-1) had tossed back-to-back scoreless innings before slipping into some trouble in the bottom of the sixth. Asheville (33-34) catcher Hamlet Marte tripled and Mylz Jones knocked him in with a sacrifice fly. The next batter, Chris Keck, homered, and Columbia trailed by three runs again.

The Fireflies managed just one hit the remainder of the game. Johnny Magliozzi continued his his strong work on the hill, as the right-hander has allowed one run over his last 14 1/3 innings of work.

Columbia and Asheville meet again on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. The Fireflies look to southpaw Kevin Canelon (4-4, 2.94) to deliver a win. He faces Tourists lefty David Hill (4-3, 4.35).