The Florence Freedom rallied for four runs in the ninth inning Thursday, but dropped an 11-6 decision to Southern Illinois.
The Freedom (7-22) sent nine batters to the plate in the ninth, scoring four runs on two hits and four walks. On a double from Austin Newell, Taylor Oldham tried to score from first and was called out at the plate, recording the second out of the inning and zapping Florence’s momentum. After a walk, Southern Illinois (20-10) closed the door to finish off the sweep.
The Miners found the scoreboard in the opening frame. After walking to leadoff the inning, Aaron Gates scored on a single from Alex De Leon. The Miners added one more in the third and two more in the fourth against Stetson Nelson. The left-hander took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) in three innings, while striking out one and walking six.
Trailing 4-0, the Freedom inched closer in the fifth. With two away, Garrett Vail ripped a single to left field and moved to third on a double by Travis Weaver. Vail came home on a wild pitch to make the score 4-1.
After Southern Illinois answered in the bottom of the fifth, Florence bounced right back in the sixth. A walk and two singles brought home another run with Richard Seigel providing the RBI. That’s all Florence could muster as the Miners’ bullpen stranded two in scoring position.
Southern Illinois broke the game open in the late innings. After a pair of two-inning, one-run outings from Davis Adkins and Tony Vocca, TJ Bozeman and Jeremy Hutchison struggled. The two right-handers combined to allow a five-run, three-hit, five-walk eighth inning that put the Miners ahead 11-2.
Florence stormed back in the ninth, but the deficit was too much to overcome. Four straight walks brought home one run for the Freedom before Oldham’s two-RBI single and Newell’s RBI double made the score 11-6. After Godbold walked, Cuthrell flew out to right, ending the ballgame.
Oldham (2-for-5, 2 RBIs) and Vail (2-for-2) had the only multi-hit games for Florence, while Newell and Fraga added RBIs. Weaver hit his sixth double of the year and scored a run.
The Freedom look to bounce back when they open up a three-game series with the Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget, Ill. this weekend. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Central time with Jeremy Gooding (2-3, 4.00 ERA) on the hill against Adam Eggnatz (1-0, 2.84 ERA).
From Freedom Communications