The Florence Freedom won their third series in a row with a 4-3 victory over the Normal CornBelters Thursday.
Collins Cuthrell led the Freedom (37-44) offense with three runs driven in, including the tying, and go-ahead runs. Jordan Kraus, Braulio Torres-Perez, and Ethan Gibbons combined to strand six CornBelters in scoring position.
Both teams scored twice in the first inning. After Normal (41-39) took the lead on a two-run home run from Nolan Meadows, Taylor Oldham responded back by crushing his 12th of the year, a solo shot to left. Austin Newell reached base with two-away on a double to left and then Cuthrell drove him home with a single back up the box.
Still tied at two in the fourth, Cuthrell gave the Freedom their first lead with a two-run shot to left field. His 12th homer of the season created a three-way tie for the team high with Oldham and Andrew Godbold.
After allowing the home run to Meadows, Kraus sat down the next eight that he faced and kept the Freedom out in front by stranding runners on third in the fourth and sixth innings.
A sacrifice fly put the CornBelters within one and placed the tying run on third base with two away. The Freedom called upon Torres-Perez and he struck out Meadows to end the threat.
Now leading 4-3 in the ninth, the CornBelters loaded the bases, but Ethan Gibbons locked down his 11th save of the year by striking out Ty Morris.
Cuthrell (three RBIs, run), Oldham (solo home run), and Newell (two runs) all totaled two hits for the Freedom. Kraus got the win, scattering three hits, two walks, and three runs (two earned) over 7 2/3 innings, while tying his season high with seven strikeouts.
Meadows posted the big hit for the CornBelters with his home run in the first, while Race Parmenter took the loss.
Florence hits the road for six games over the next week. The trip begins with a matchup against the Evansville Otters Friday at 6:35 p.m. Central time. Tony Vocca (1-2, 3.76 ERA) will matchup with Matt Wivinis (2-0, 0.85 ERA) in game one of the series.
From Freedom Communications