Florence won its sixth consecutive road series as they split a doubleheader with the Lake Erie Crushers on Thursday.
Florence took the first game 4-2 to clinch the series win but lost the second matchup, 2-0.
In game one, a nine-inning contest that picked up in the bottom of the first after rain washed away Wednesday’s game after a half inning, the Freedom rode Chuck Weaver (4-3) to victory. The right-hander went seven and two thirds innings, allowing two runs on five hits, walking two and striking out eight.
Florence tallied four runs in the fourth off Trevor Longfellow (4-4) to take command of the game. Zac Mitchell homered to start the inning, his first home run of the season. One out later Andrew Godbold doubled. With two away, Ozzy Gonzalez drew a walk.
Justin Harris singled home Godbold to make it 2-0 in favor of Florence. Gonzalez pulled off a delayed steal of third to put runners at the corners. Then Harris pulled off a delayed steal of second. The throw went sailing into center, allowing Gonzalez to score. Harris came all the way around to score as well on the play to make it 4-0 in favor of the Freedom.
Weaver didn’t allow any runs until Lake Erie pushed across a couple in the eighth. Ethan Gibbons entered the game and struck out Jose Barraza to end the frame. Ed Kohout worked a scoreless ninth for his 13th save of the season.
In game two, the Freedom got another excellent start from Jeremy Gooding (5-3) but could not muster any offense against a combination of Todd Kibby, Mike Devine (2-2) and Daniel DeSimone as they got shutout for the fourth time this season.
Gooding allowed back-to-back home runs to Barraza and Anderson Hidalgo in the sixth inning of the seven-inning game. Those were the only runs for the Crushers as he scattered nine hits over five and two thirds innings, striking out six along the way. The Freedom have scored a combined one run in Gooding’s three losses this season.
The Freedom will look to win their seventh consecutive road series as they travel to Washington, Pennsylvania for a three-game series with the Wild Things starting Friday night at 7:05 p.m. Tony Vocca (3-1, 2.22 ERA) takes the hill for Florence.
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From Freedom Communications