The Florence Freedom fell to the Evansville Otters by a score of 4-2 at UC Health Stadium Wednesday.
The Otters used a four-run fifth inning to defeat the Freedom in a seven-inning game that saw a two hour and twenty-four minute rain delay.
With the Freedom up 2-0 in the top of the third, rain began to fall heavily at UC Health Stadium. The game was delayed and both umpires returned to the clubhouse and decided to call the game. The Freedom had a doubleheader scheduled with a single game to conclude the three-game series on Thursday, so calling the game meant calling the doubleheader. Florence is not scheduled to play Evansville again this season, so playing at least one game was important.
The umpires initially refused to resume the game, declaring it suspended and that a doubleheader would be played on Thursday. The Frontier League stepped in and overruled the umpires. One umpire, Brandon Cooper, was already on his way home to Louisville. Instead of returning to umpire the remainder of the game, he quit.
Florence was able to call upon Dave Blanchet and he finished the game umpiring in the field with Jeremy Stangelo returning to call balls and strikes. The team made the decision to just finish the seven-inning game and play a doubleheader on Thursday to complete the series.
Meanwhile, Evansville trailed 2-0, following a Collins Cuthrell two-run homer in the first.
The Otters sent nine men to the plate in the top of the fifth. Kurt Wertz Jr. doubled in Nik Balog to make it 2-1. John Schultz singled to plate Wertz Jr. and tie the game at two. Dane Phillips singled in Cory Urquhart and Schultz to give Evansville a 4-2 lead.
Freedom starter Jeremy Gooding pitched two and two thirds innings of scoreless baseball before the rain delay.
The Florence bullpen sent three men to hill. Jason Postill allowed two runs in his two innings on the bump. Pete Levitt (1-2) gave up two runs before getting the final out of the fifth. Seth Harvey tossed two scoreless frames and struck out two.
Due to circumstances, all ticket holders for the game will have their tickets honored for a future game. Ticket holders can redeem their tickets for a one of equal or lesser value to a future Sunday-Wednesday Freedom game. Visit the Florence Freedom box office during normal business hours to redeem tickets.
The Freedom return to action on Thursday evening against the Otters with a doubleheader on tap. First pitch is set for 5:35 p.m.
Fans who can’t make the games can listen live to all 96 Freedom games on http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From Florence Freedom