The Florence Freedom fought back from an early deficit Tuesday, but could not hold on to their late lead in a 7-6, 10-inning loss to the Southern Illinois Miners.
After trailing 5-1 early, the Freedom (38-47) scored five unanswered runs to take a 6-5 lead after six innings. The Miners (57-28) tied the score in the ninth and then scored the winning run in the 10th to steal the victory.
Southern Illinois jumped on the scoreboard first, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning.
Florence cut the deficit in half with a run in the second. Collins Cuthrell led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shaun Cooper. A Jordan Brower single pushed Cuthrell to third before he came home on a groundout from Garrett Vail.
In the second and third frames, the Miners totaled six two-out hits and scored three runs with two away to take a 5-1 lead.
The Freedom started their comeback in the fifth, Daniel Fraga reached on a dropped third strike, moved to third on an error, and scored on an RBI single from Andrew Godbold. After Austin Newell added a hit, Cuthrell drove in another run for Florence, scoring Godbold on a single and cutting the Freedom deficit to 5-3.
In the sixth, Brower led off the inning with a base hit and moved to second on a groundout. Travis Weaver, playing in his 400th professional game, delivered a one-out RBI single to pull the Freedom within one. After Fraga singled through the right side, Taylor Oldham drilled a two-run double to right-center, scoring both Weaver and Fraga, and putting the Freedom out in front 6-5.
Florence pitching was dominant between the fourth and eighth innings. Gooding, Evan Bickett, Tony Vocca, and TJ Bozeman combined to only allow two base runners on a pair of walks in five shutout innings.
With the Freedom still leading 6-5 in the ninth, Toby DeMello took Ethan Gibbons deep to tie the score at six. The Miners got the winning run to third in the inning, but Gibbons was able to strand Julius Gaines there.
In the tenth, Cody Gray got two quick outs, but Brandon Cummins singled and moved to third on an arid pickoff throw. DeMello then bounced a ball to deep third. From foul territory, Oldham fired a throw across the diamond that pulled Brower off the base and his attempt to quickly recover to the bag was too late, allowing DeMello to reach, Cummins to score, and the Miners to win the ballgame.
The Freedom totaled 15 hits in the ballgame, their highest total since August 12. Eight of the Freedom’s nine starters recorded hits, including three from Cuthrell and Godbold. Oldham drove in a team-high two runs, while Fraga scored a pair.
Gooding allowed five runs, seven hits, and two walks in his first three innings, but retired the side in order in his final two frames. Bickett, Vocca, and Bozeman didn’t allow a hit out of the Florence bullpen, while Gibbons and Gray (unearned) both gave up a run.
DeMello led the charge for Southern Illinois with a career-high four hits. He also scored two runs and drove in a pair. The Miners bullpen tossed four scoreless innings after the Freedom knocked around starter Jarett Miller.
Florence continues its series with Southern Illinois Wednesday. Jordan Kraus (6-8, 3.36 ERA) will take the ball for Florence against Brooks Trujilo (3-3, 4.23 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
From Freedom Communications