The Florence Freedom held the River City Rascals at bay for much of the evening Thursday, but a five-run, six-hit second inning propelled the home team to a sweep with a 7-1 victory.
The Freedom (7-16) took the lead in the opening frame for the second consecutive game. Taylor Oldham started the rally by ripping a one-out single down the left-field line. With two away, Richard Seigel walked and Collins Cuthrell followed by lining an RBI double into the left-field corner. Seigel tried to score from first on the play, but was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.
The Rascals (15-8) took the lead in the second and never looked back. They sent nine to the plate against Zach Isler, totaling six hits and five runs. River City added two more in the seventh inning to take the 7-1 win.
Florence had chances to add on more runs during the ballgame. The team totaled seven hits, but left seven men on base, including six in scoring position. Austin Newell extended his season-long nine-game hit streak, while Cuthrell recorded the team’s only extra-base hit on his RBI double in the first inning. Daniel Fraga was the lone Freedom player with multiple hits.
Zach Isler tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing 12 hits and seven runs, while striking out four. Besides the five-run second inning, he limited the Rascals’ offense to six hits and two runs, while stranding three in scoring position. Pete Levitt and TJ Bozeman both pitched scoreless outings out of the bullpen. On the mound for the third time in the series, Levitt walked a batter, but forced two fielder’s choices to end the seventh. Bozeman allowed a hit and a walk, but bounced back from a rough outing on Tuesday by stranding two Rascals runners.
Josh Ludy totaled a 4-for-4 night before leaving the game for a pinch runner in the seventh inning. Kyle Gaedele also had three hits and finished with three RBIs. Josh Wright, a pitcher who was signed by the Freedom out of the 2016 California Winter League, pitched well against his former team. He allowed just one run and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, while walking two and striking out five. The River City bullpen finished off the sweep with 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball.
The Freedom look to bounce back at home against the Evansville Otters Friday. Stetson Nelson (0-1, 5.40 ERA) will be on the hill for Florence against Peyton Baskette (1-0, 5.68 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. For more information on the jam-packed promotional schedule for the weekend, click here.
From Freedom Communications