The Florence Freedom mustered just four hits Wednesday in a 5-0 home loss to Traverse City.
The Beach Bums (26-36) jumped on Florence starter Jeremy Gooding early, scoring four runs in the first three innings. Giancarlo Brugnoni and Steven Patterson notched home runs to put the home team ahead.
After that, Gooding settled down, holding the Beach Bums to just one hit and one hit-by-pitch in his final 4 2/3 innings. Traverse City added one more in the eighth as Gooding tied his season-high with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings (five runs, seven hits, no walks).
The Beach Bums held the Freedom offense at bay throughout the game, only allowing four hits, two walks, and two hit batters. The Freedom never pushed a runner past second base.
Andre Mercurio posted the only extra-base hit for Florence, a pinch-hit double in the ninth inning, while Travis Weaver, Andrew Godbold, and Josh Henderson accounted for the other three base hits.
Dylan Stoops earned the win with six shutout innings (two hits, two walks, six strikeouts), while Jacob Lanning and Andrew Brockett finished off the ballgame.
The Freedom will try to even the season series against the Beach Bums with a win in game three Thursday. Cody Gray (4-1, 3.64 ERA) will matchup against Michael Shreves (2-4, 5.83 ERA) in a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.
From Freedom Communications