A strong Evansville Otters pitching staff stymied the bats of the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, as the top-scoring team in the league managed just one run in Friday’s series opener at UC Health Stadium.
Starter Max Duval (2-1) pitched six innings for the Otters (10-9), holding the Freedom (14-5) to just one unearned run on four hits.
With the Otters leading 3-0, the right-hander left the game with bases loaded and none out in the seventh after a Collins Cuthrell single, an Evansville throwing error and a walk. Kyano Cummings entered in relief and allowed Austin Wobrock to lift a sacrifice fly to center, but Cummings rebounded to retire the next two batters, as well as all three men faced in the eighth.
With one out in the ninth and Randy McCurry pitching, Jordan Brower singled to right-center to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Ryan Rinsky then lined out and Wobrock drew a walk, bringing the winning run to the plate. But pinch-hitter Mike Morris grounded out to second, ending the game.
Marty Anderson (2-1) took the loss for Florence, as the Otters scored the only two runs they would need in the first inning.
Evansville opened the game with a single and a walk, but after a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, Brower misplayed a groundball at first base to allow the first run to score, and a Christopher Riopedre RBI-single followed.
Anderson would pitch a season-high five and two-thirds innings, but walked five batters and labored against Evansville hitters. The left-hander allowed a single before being pulled in the sixth, and Patrick McGrath would allow a RBI-single on a soft groundball by John Schultz for the Otters’ final run. McGrath would hold Evansville scoreless in the seventh, however, and Evan Bickett tossed scoreless eighth and ninth innings to keep the Freedom in the game in the latter frames.
The Freedom will look to rebound in the second game of the series, sending Cody Gray (3-0) to start against Hunter Ackerman (1-2) for the Otters. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.
The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.