The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, completed their first sweep of the year with a 5-1 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers.
Stetson Nelson became the third starting pitcher in the series to toss a stellar performance, allowing just one run and five hits in seven innings. The three Freedom starters in the series, Davis Adkins, Jeremy Gooding, and Nelson, combined to allow just two runs in 20 innings, while recording more strikeouts (14) than hits allowed (13).
In completing the sweep, Florence (15-26) outscored Lake Erie (17-23) 24-7 and out hit the Crushers 38-19.
The Freedom took the first lead in the third inning today, scoring a pair of runs on four hits. Josh Henderson started it all off with a single and then moved to third on a base hit from Travis Weaver. Daniel Fraga followed by lining a ball over the shortstop, scoring Henderson. Taylor Oldham laid a bunt down the third-base line for a hit and, when the throw went down the right-field line, Weaver came in to score to give the Freedom a 2-0 lead.
After Lake Erie put one run on the board in the bottom of the inning, the Freedom bounced back for another pair in the fourth. Andrew Godbold reached on an error and Richard Seigel singled to put two men on base. After both runners moved into scoring position later in the inning, Henderson delivered a two-out, two-RBI single to give Florence a 4-1 advantage.
Nelson held the Crushers at bay through the seventh and Seigel added one more for Florence in the sixth. He hit a line-drive home run to right field, putting the Freedom ahead 5-1. Seigel finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs, and an RBI.
Tony Vocca tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning, while TJ Bozeman only allowed a one-out walk as the Freedom bullpen shut the door. The Freedom pitching staff finished the three-game series with 30 strikeouts.
Seigel led the offense, while Henderson chipped in with two hits and two RBIs. Fraga and Oldham also notched multi-hit games.
Brendan Constantino finished with two of the Crushers’ five hits and the team’s only RBI. Mike Devine took the loss for Lake Erie, allowing five runs (three earned) in 6 2/3 innings.
The Freedom look to keep the train rolling tomorrow when they open up a three-game set with the Washington Wild Things. Patrick McGrath (2-3, 7.25 ERA) will take the ball for Florence against Luke Wilkins (1-1, 3.00 ERA) with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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