Columbia, SC – Despite erasing a ninth-inning deficit, the Charleston RiverDogs fell 6-5 to the Columbia Fireflies in an eleven-inning battle on Saturday night at Segra Park.
The RiverDogs broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fifth after a two-out walk and error placed runners at the corners. On the first pitch, Cooper Flemming torched a two-run triple down the right-field line to bring home Slater de Brun and Grady Emerson to make it 2-0.
Charleston tacked on another in the top of the seventh when JD Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to three.
Columbia rallied for one in the bottom of the frame, but Alex Wallace worked out of trouble, capping scoring at 3-1.
Starter Aidan Cremarosa was stellar, delivering five shutout innings while fanning seven. Both bullpens traded scoreless innings through the seventh.
In the bottom of the eighth, Columbia rallied for three runs to jump in front 4-3.
Charleston quickly bounced back in the top of the ninth. With Slater de Brun at third, Flemming struck out on a breaking ball in the dirt, forcing a throw to first. As the ball was fired across the diamond, de Brun took off for the plate and scored to tie the game at 4-4.
After a scoreless tenth, the RiverDogs took the lead in the eleventh when Emerson rolled an RBI-infield single to the first that scored Jack Lines to make it 5-4. In the process, he earned his first professional run batted in.
In the bottom of the frame, Columbia loaded the bases with one out for Camden Johnson who rolled a two-run single to right to earn Columbia a 6-5 win.
With the loss, the RiverDogs fell to 68-57 and 31-28 in the second half, while Columbia moved to 63-61, and 28-30 in the second half. The two return to the park tomorrow for game five of the series. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. with coverage beginning at 5:50 on the RiverDogs Broadcast Network.
Let Freedom Bark
After clinching the Carolina League South first half title, the RiverDogs have secured a spot in the 2026 postseason, presented by Nucor Steel Berkeley. The best-of-three Division Series begins on Tuesday, September 8. Thanks to their first-half division title, the RiverDogs are guaranteed to host Game 2, and, if necessary, Game 3, at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on September 10 and 11.
Single-game postseason tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit RiverDogs.com.