The Florence Freedom split a doubleheader with the Evansville Otters at UC Health Stadium on Thursday.
Evansville knocked off Florence in game one 4-2, and Florence took game two 3-2. Both games were seven innings per league rules.
Game one starter Casey Henn (3-7), tossed a complete game and struck out eight but dropped his seventh decision of the season. Florence starter Tony Vocca (3-0) picked up the win in game two, tossing five innings allowing two runs and fanning two batters.
In game number one, Florence got on the board in the second on a Sam Eberle solo home run.
But Evansville took advantage of three walks in the third inning, scoring one run on a wild pitch and then taking a 4-1 lead on a Dane Phillips three-run home run.
In the fourth, Andrew Godbold doubled and came into score all the way from second on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 4-2. But that’s how the score remained as Evansville prevailed.
Down 1-0, Florence got on the board in the bottom half of the second in game two. Justin Harris walked and moved to second on an Ozzy Gonzalez single. Harris came around to score on a Mason Salazar single.
Florence trailed 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth inning. Daniel Fraga led off with a single and moved to third on a Zac Mitchell single. Mitchell and Fraga came around to score on Collins Cuthrell’s two RBI double. Florence led 3-2 after five frames.
The Florence bullpen sent out Ethan Gibbons and Ed Kohout to shut the door in game two. Gibbons tossed a scoreless sixth inning and struck out one and Kohout earned his seventh save of the season, dealing a scoreless seventh inning.
The Freedom head to Schaumburg for three games starting Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Listen live to all 96 Freedom games on http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From the Florence Freedom