The Florence Freedom took a first-inning lead Wednesday, but watched it slip away as the Schaumburg Boomers won game two of the series 8-3.
Florence (5-11) jumped out in front with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning. Taylor Oldham and Austin Newell both singled and then Richard Seigel was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The next batter, Collins Cuthrell, grounded a ball to third base and Mark Nelson opted to throw home, but his toss was too high and tipped off the mitt of the catcher Michael Valadez. The ball got away, which allowed Oldham and Newell to score on the play.
The Freedom plated their only other run in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. With one away and runners on the corners, Seigel ran for second while the pitcher was set. He got caught in a rundown, but the second baseman Jordan Dean fired to third to try to get the lead runner, Oldham. When Oldham darted for the plate, Nelson dropped the ball and Oldham scored to make the score 3-1 Florence.
The Boomers (6-11) scored one in the fourth before taking the lead for good with a four-run fifth. With two outs and one man on, five consecutive men reached base. Josh Gardiner doubled in a run and the next three batters reached via free passes (walk, walk, hit by pitch). With the score tied at three and the bases still loaded, Nelson doubled home two, but a third run was cut down at the plate on a Cuthrell, Travis Weaver, Garrett Vail relay to end the inning.
Schaumburg added three insurance runs in the eighth and cruised to their third-straight victory.
Oldham led the team with a pair of hits and two runs scored, while Seigel reached base three times (hit, hit by pitch, walk). Weaver recorded the only extra-base hit of the game, a double down the left-field line in the second inning. Brandon Bargas took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in 4 2/3. Pete Levitt allowed his first hit of the season, but no runs of his own.
TJ Bozeman’s two-inning outing included three runs (one earned) and four walks, while Andrew Millner finished off the eighth inning by forcing a double play and a pop out.
Scott Schultz earned the win for Schaumburg, tossing six innings and allowing three runs (one earned), six hits, and one walk. The Boomers bullpen did not allow a base runner, sitting down the Freedom in order in the seventh, eighth, and ninth.
Florence looks to salvage game three of the series Thursday, a 7:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. Eastern time) first pitch. Patrick McGrath (1-1, 5.82 ERA) will take the hill for Florence against Gunnar Kines (0-1, 7.24 ERA).
From Freedom Communications