The Florence Freedom dropped another one run decision to the Southern Illinois Miners, this time by a score of 2-1 at UC Health Stadium on Sunday.
The Miners took advantage of Florence defensive miscues in the fourth to score their first run and a lead-off walk came around to score in the eighth inning on an Aaron Gates RBI single to give the Miners the lead for good.
Florence starter Coleman Stephens tossed five and two thirds innings, while allowing only one hit while fanning four. The Texas native did not factor in the decision as he was forced to leave with a cut on the thumb on his throwing hand.
Trailing 1-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth, Florence tied the game up. Andrew Godbold singled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a Sam Eberle single. Justin Harris laid down a bunt that allowed Godbold to score and Florence to tie the game at one.
The Florence bullpen came in for the final three and a third innings. Tony Vocca (3-1) went two innings and allowed one run while fanning two as he suffered his first loss of the season. Pete Levitt got the final out of the eighth and Ethan Gibbons struck out the side in the ninth.
Florence left eight men on base in the loss. They finished the series having scored a combined five runs over three games. The Freedom also committed a season-high three errors in the game.
The Freedom will look to bounce back on the road starting Tuesday night in Avon, Ohio as they take on the Lake Erie Crushers. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and all the action can be heard at http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
In Saturday’s action, the Freedom fell behind early and couldn’t catch up in a narrow 3-2 loss to the Southern Illinois Miners.
The Miners got on the board in the first inning against rookie left-hander Patrick McGrath (0-1) when Michael Earley homered to right field.
They tallied another run in the second inning as a batter reached on a Freedom error and eventually came around to score on an Adrian English RBI fielder’s choice.
A Steve Marino sacrifice fly made it 3-0 Miners in the third inning.
McGrath went four innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits in his professional debut. The bullpen was outstanding for the Freedom as Zach Wendorf, Austin Delmotte and Seth Harvey combined to shutout Southern Illinois from the fifth inning on.
Florence rallied for two runs in the seventh inning as Steve Carrillo delivered a two-out, two-RBI double to cut the Miners’ lead to 3-2.
But they could not finish the rally as at one point four straight hitters struck out looking down the stretch. Travis Weaver did put a jolt into one with two outs in the ninth, but Brian Portelli made a leaping catch at the wall to rob Weaver of a home run and end the game.
Adam Lopez (8-0) went six shutout innings of one-hit ball to get the win. Florence managed only three hits in the game.
From Freedom Communications