Florence used clutch two-out hitting to beat the Lake Erie Crushers 6-3 Wednesday night.
The Freedom got on the board against Lake Erie starter Jason Wilson (1-3) in the fourth. Austin Newell doubled and, with two away, Cody Bishop singled him home to put Florence up 1-0.
Lake Erie responded in the bottom half of the frame against Freedom spot starter Tony Vocca. Anderson Hidalgo doubled and Joey Burney doubled him home to even the game at one.
Florence delivered more two-out thunder in the fifth. With one away, Travis Weaver reached on an error. Zack Burling followed with a single, putting runners at first and second. Daniel Fraga singled as well. Weaver was stopped at third but Burling kept running on the play.
Both Burling and Weaver got caught up in a rundown and Weaver was eventually tagged out with Burling reaching third and Fraga reached second on the play.
With two out, Newell singled home both runners to put Florence up 3-1. With runners at first and second and two outs, Collins Cuthrell drew a walk on the pay-off pitch. Both runners were going on the pitch and it snuck past Lake Erie catcher Kevin Franchetti for a passed ball. Eberle came around from second to score and put Florence ahead 4-1.
The Crushers responded right away in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Jason Postill (1-0). Craig Massoni and Cody Stevens reached on back-to-back singles, putting runners at the corners. Juan Sanchez doubled home both runners to make the score 4-3. Ty Nelson drew a walk but Postill and reliever Austin Delmotte, in his pro debut, combined to get the three outs they needed to end the frame and prevent any further damage. Postill got Anderson Hidalgo and Joey Burney to pop out and Delmotte got Jose Barraza to ground out to get out of the jam.
Up 4-3, the Freedom got some insurance with two outs in the eighth. Cuthrell singled with one away and with two down Ozzy Gonzalez singled as well. That set up Steve Carrillo, who doubled home both runners to extend the Freedom edge to 6-3.
All six runs scored by the Freedom in the game came with two outs.
Ed Kohout picked up his fourth save by tossing a scoreless ninth. The Freedom used six relievers after Vocca started the game and they combined to toss five and a third innings of two-run ball.
Florence looks to win the series Thursday night as Jeremy Gooding (1-0, 7.20 ERA) takes the hill. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. Fans can tune in at http://mixlr.com/florencefreedom/.
From Freedom Communications