The Florence Freedom split a doubleheader with the Normal CornBelters on Wednesday as they dropped a heartbreaker in game one by a score of 1-0 in 10 innings but bounced back to win game two by a score of 6-1.
Florence received fantastic pitching performances all evening long, as Normal only scored two runs for the day.
Florence starters Jeremy Gooding and Chuck Weaver (5-3) were terrific for Florence. Gooding tossed six innings of shutout baseball in game number one but got a no-decision. The Michigan native struck out three and allowed only one hit.
Weaver was just as good in game number two, pitching a complete game and allowing only one run while fanning seven.
The Freedom bullpen was called upon in game one. Ethan Gibbons tossed one and a third innings of scoreless ball while fanning two. Pete Levitt pitched two thirds of an inning of scoreless baseball.
Seth Harvey (2-3) picked up the loss, allowing one run in his two innings on the bump as Cameron Monger hit a solo home run in the 10th inning for the only run in the game scored by either team.
Eberle hit seven home runs between games in the Jose Canseco Home Run Derby presented by Save Discount Drugs to emerge victorious over Canseco and a host of other contestants including Freedom manager Dennis Pelfrey.
Florence got on the scoreboard in game two in the bottom half of the fourth. Frazier Hall and Sam Eberle walked. Matt Rubino was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Travis Weaver singled sharply into left to plate Hall and tie the game at one.
Tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth in game two, Florence took the lead for good. Daniel Fraga singled, stole second and moved to third on a ground out by Zac Mitchell. Collins Cuthrell singled to drive in Fraga for the eventual game-winning run. Hall walked and Eberle was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Andrew Godbold emptied the bases with one swing of the bat, doubling into the left field corner and giving Florence a 5-1 lead after five.
Rubino put a dent on the scoreboard in the sixth. The rookie out of Francis Marion University crushed a home run over the right field fence for his first professional hit. The Freedom held a 6-1 advantage after six.
That’s how game two would end as Weaver took care of the rest, shutting down the CornBelters for the complete game win.
The Freedom return to action against the CornBelters on Thirsty Thursday at UC Health Stadium. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m.
Fans who can’t make the games can listen live to all 96 Freedom games on http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From Freedom Communications