The Florence Freedom saw a three-run lead evaporate in the eight inning as the Normal CornBelters scored four times in the frame to come back and post an 8-7 victory Wednesday night.
Normal used three singles and two doubles to rally in the decisive inning. The final blow, an Ozney Guillen double, rolled all the way to the wall after left fielder Zack Burling tripped and fell. Guillen’s double allowed Ty Morris to score the eventual game-winning run.
Florence starter Jeremy Gooding went five and a third innings allowing four runs while fanning eight. The Madonna University product did not factor in the decision.
Florence got on the board in the top half of the first. Zac Mitchell walked, and moved to second on an Austin Newell single. Andrew Godbold kept the line moving with an infield single to load the bases. Collins Cuthrell walked to plate Mitchell and give Florence a 1-0 lead after a half inning of play.
After the CornBelters tied the game at one in the bottom half of the first on an Aaron Dudley homer, Florence regained the lead in the second. Mason Salazar walked and stole second. Salazar moved to third on a Daniel Fraga ground out and came around to score on a Zac Mitchell RBI single. The Freedom lead 2-1 after one and half innings.
Following a Guillen homer that tied the game at two, the Freedom took another lead in the third. Sam Eberle doubled start the frame. Godbold grounded out to first, moving Eberle to third. Cuthrell drove in Eberle with a sacrifice fly. Florence led 3-2 after two and half frames.
Florence added to their lead in the fourth. Daniel Fraga singled with two outs. Zac Mitchell reached first on a bunt single. Then Austin Newell demolished a three-run home run over the right field fence. The Freedom led 6-2 after three and half innings.
Normal chipped away but Florence padded their advantage in the eighth. Ozzy Gonzalez ripped a ground rule double. Mason Salazar moved Gonzalez to third and Steve Carrillo singled sharply into right to plate Gonzalez. Florence led 7-4 after seven and half innings.
Tony Vocca, Pete Levitt and Ethan Gibbons was called upon out of the bullpen. Levitt recorded the final two outs of the sixth. Vocca tossed a scoreless seventh. And Gibbons (0-2) struck out three in the eighth but allowed the four runs to cross on five hits to suffer the loss.
The Freedom return to action against the CornBelters on Thursday. First pitch live from the Corn Crib is set for 7:35 p.m. Patrick McGrath (1-1, 1.69 ERA) takes the hill for the Freedom. Fans can tune in at http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From Freedom Communications