The Florence Freedom completed their second sweep of the year Sunday with a 4-1 victory over the Normal CornBelters.
Florence (21-30) pitching shined in their season-high fifth straight win. The starter, Ben Allison tossed five innings of one-run ball in his professional debut, while the Freedom bullpen allowed just three hits in four innings.
In completing the sweep, Collins Cuthrell provided an offensive spark in the opening frame. After Daniel Fraga walked to leadoff the ballgame, Andrew Godbold delivered a two-out base hit up the middle to put two men on for Cuthrell. The Florence centerfielder lined his fourth home run in six games over the left field fence, putting the Freedom up 3-0 right away.
Those three runs were more than enough for the pitching staff. The CornBelters (23-28) scored one run on a Nolan Meadows single in the first, but did not score again. Allison stranded four men in scoring position in his five innings, allowing five hits and two walks, while striking out one.
Florence scored their final run of the game on consecutive hits in the sixth. Taylor Oldham led off the inning by stretching a base hit to left into a double. Then Austin Newell drove Oldham home with a single through the right side.
TJ Bozeman, Jeremy Hutchison, Davis Adkins, and Ethan Gibbons combined to allow just three hits and no walks, while striking out five. Gibbons earned his sixth save of the year, while Allison took the win.
On offense, Cuthrell’s home run was the big hit, while Fraga, Oldham, Newell, Godbold, and Henderson all finished with one hit as well.
Chris Carmain took the loss, tossing eight innings and allowing four runs on six hits. Meadows and Dylan Kelly both notched two hits for Normal.
The Frontier League All-Star Break starts Monday, but the Freedom will take on the Chicago Bandits in the Battle of the Sexes softball game at 7:05 p.m. The Y’All Star festivities continue with the Home Run Derby on Tuesday at 6:35 and the Frontier League Y’All Star Game at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
More information and tickets for all of the Y’All Star Week events can be found here.
The Freedom’s season resumes on Friday when they travel to Joliet on Friday, July 15 for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.