Florence dropped a 4-3 decision to the Joliet Slammers at Silver Cross Field on Sunday.
Cody Gray (3-1) tossed five and a third innings, allowing three runs while fanning four. The Northwood University product suffered his first loss of the season as he hit three batters in the contest, including Casey Fletcher in the sixth, who eventually scored the go-ahead run.
Florence got on the board first. Daniel Fraga singled and promptly stole second and third to put himself 90 feet away from scoring. Frazier Hall drove in Fraga with a RBI ground-out.
Florence added to their 1-0 lead in the third. Zac Mitchell singled and stole second. Sam Eberle ripped a triple into the left center field gap that plated Mitchell and gave Florence a 2-0 lead.
Joliet got one back in the fourth and took the lead with two runs in the fifth. Florence tied the ballgame in fifth. Daniel Fraga doubled with one out. Mitchell singled sharply into center that allowed Fraga to score and even the game at three.
Joliet took the lead for good in the sixth. Gray exited after five and a third innings with the bases loaded and one out. Pete Levitt entered for the Freedom and induced a Nate Roberts fly ball out that was deep enough to allow Fletcher to score as the Slammers pulled ahead by a score of 4-3.
Levitt got the final two outs of the sixth. Chuck Weaver and Ethan Gibbons each struck out one in a scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Florence left seven men on base in the loss.
The Freedom return to action against the Normal CornBelters on Tuesday. First pitch live from the Corn Crib is set for 7:35 p.m. Chuck Weaver (5-3, 3.41 ERA) takes the hill for the Freedom. Fans can tune in at http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
In Saturday’s game, The veteran set the table and the rookie won the game for the Freedom.
The Freedom rallied to beat the Joliet Slammers in 10 innings by a score of 4-2.
Trailing 2-0 entering the top of the ninth, veteran Steve Carrillo drew a lead-off walk. Rookie Mason Salazar pinch ran for Carrillo. Daniel Fraga followed with a single. With the corner infielders charging, expecting a bunt, Zac Mitchell singled to drive in Salazar and cut the deficit to 2-1. Sam Eberle followed with a single through the right side to tie the game at two.
Then in the 10th, Florence took the lead for good. Ozzy Gonzalez doubled to start the frame. Salazar, now hitting in Carrillo’s spot, delivered the eventual game-winning hit, a single to score Gonzalez and Florence took a 3-2 lead. Fraga singled on a bunt and Mitchell hit a sharp liner under the glove of third baseman Mike Garza to extend the lead to 4-2.
That’s how the game would end as Ed Kohout (4-3) shut down Joliet in the bottom of the 10th. It’s the second win for the Freedom when trailing after eight innings this season.
The Freedom had a baserunner reach every inning but did not score until their dramatic ninth inning rally. Zach Wendorf went five innings, allowing only one run, which was unearned. He walked two and struck out five while only allowing one hit.
Joliet scored a run thanks to two Freedom errors in the fourth and tallied another run in the sixth on a Joe Staley sacrifice fly.
The Freedom left 15 men on base in the game but it didn’t matter as they pulled off the dramatic rally in the ninth and won it in the 10th.
From Freedom Communications