Cauley Crushes the Fireflies

6/2 Game Recap

By: Jackson Pass

In game four of the series between the Columbia Fireflies and the Down East Wood Ducks, the starters racked up the strikeouts early, with Porter sporting three through the first two innings and Panzini sporting five strikeouts against eight Woodies batters. The Fireflies were first to jump on the board in the third with Calderon reaching on a fielder’s choice. Calderon scored from first on an infield single from Florentino, moving him up to second and a throwing error on Porter on the single that allowed him to round the bases. The Woodies had identical third and fourth innings at the plate with four batters hitting, recording a single and left stranded on first base.

Porter allowed one on via a walk in the fifth before striking out two to end the top half. The Woodies also had one reach base in the fifth on four batters for the third consecutive inning. Porter ended his night as Damian Mendoza replaced Porter from the bullpen. Mendoza had a one, two, three inning on 11 pitches. Porter finished his night with 5.0 innings, 2 hits, 1 run, and 7 strikeouts. Down East erupted for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning after Panzini was replaced with Valerio, who gave up three consecutive walks to start the inning and then Cam Cauley stepped up to the plate to deposit a grand slam over the left center fence to put the Woodies up 4-1. The Woodies added two more runs in the sixth as a hit by pitch allowed Galan to reach, a wild pitch moved him to second, swiping third before scoring on a RBI fielder’s choice from Blackmon. Morrobel was the last to score in the inning, reaching on a single, swiping second, advancing to third on a wild pitch, and taking home on a first and third double steal with Specht on first. The Woodies now lead the game 6-3, as Valerio gave up four runs, never recording an out in the inning and Olivarez gave up two runs in his first inning pitched.

The Fireflies had a two out double in the seventh, leaving Usher stranded on second as Mendoza ended his night with 2.0 innings pitched, 1 hit, and 2 strikeouts. Olivarez struckout the side in the bottom of the seventh against the four, five, and six batters for Down East. Jackson Leath entered the game in the eighth for the Woodies recording two strikeouts and a groundout in his only inning of work. Wallace entered to throw in the bottom of the eighth for the Fireflies going three up three down. Mota came in for the ninth on the mound for the Woodies as the Fireflies put two on the board to bring the game back within three as a single by Calderon and a single by Leyton brought around Rodriguez and Squires. Mota recorded two outs before Wynyard replaced him to record the final out on the night for the save and a 6-3 Woodies win, stretch the streak to four straight. Cauley went 2-4 with 4 RBI on the night and Morrobel record 3 hit on 4 at bats.

The Wood Ducks (27-18) and Columbia Fireflies (28-21) play game five tomorrow, June 3rd, with the Wood Ducks leading the series 4-0, as the first pitch is set for 5pm in Kinston, NC at Grainger Stadium. All fans can come out on for Pespi Saturday, getting a discount on your ticket if you bring a Pepsi to the ticket booth and a basketball giveaway jersey presented by Walker Insurance Group.

Fans can purchase tickets on woodducksbaseball.com, by calling the Wood Ducks Team Offices at (252) 686-5164 or in the Wood Ducks Team Offices located at Grainger Stadium (Tues-Fri – 10am - 4pm). Make sure to follow your Down East Wood Ducks on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook so you don’t miss anything!