Freedom Drop Finale against Joliet
July 24, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Florence, Ky. - The Joliet Slammers plated six runs in the first two innings and took the series finale against the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, 7-4.
Despite the loss tonight, the Freedom (26-34) won the series 2-1 with their victories on Friday and Saturday.
The Slammers (31-28) opened the scoring in the first inning when a two-error play allowed a pair to score. Joliet added four more against Florence starter Davis Adkins in the second inning and led 6-0 after two frames.
After Adkins stranded the bases loaded in the second, Ben Allison did the same in the third, keeping the Freedom in the ballgame early.
In the bottom of the third a pair of walks set the stage for Taylor Oldham, who launched his eighth home run of the year. The long ball put the Freedom right back in the ballgame at 6-3 through three innings.
In the middle innings, Joliet starter Shane Bryant and Florence reliever Tony Vocca matched each other pitch-for-pitch before the Slammers broke through for another tally in the seventh. Marc Flores doubled and came in to score on a wild pitch later in the inning.
The Freedom answered right back with a run in the bottom of the inning. Andre Mercurio reached on a bunt single and moved to third when the throw went down the right-field line. Daniel Fraga brought him home with a sacrifice fly to right.
Former Freedom pitcher Brent Choban relieved Joliet starter Shane Bryant and shut the door by retiring all six that he faced in the eighth and ninth.
Bryant tossed seven innings, allowing just four runs (three earned) and five hits, while striking out four. Hunter Ridge hit a home run in the second, while Alfredo Rodriguez totaled a pair of hits for the Slammers.
Oldham's home run was the big hit for Florence and Mercurio chipped in with a hit and two runs scored.
Florence begins a three-game set on the road against Traverse City on Tuesday, July 26. Jordan Kraus (4-4, 3.41 ERA) will take the hill against Kramer Champlin (3-5, 2.63 ERA) with first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
To keep up with all the latest Florence Freedom news and to learn about exclusive deals and contests, make sure to like the team on Facebook and follow the team on Twitter.
The Florence Freedom are members of the 12-team professional Independent Frontier League and play a 96 game schedule, with 48 home games at UC Health Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. In 2015, the Frontier League recognized the Freedom as the league's organization of the year and awarded the team with the league's All-Star event. The 2016 season will mark the 13th year the Freedom have played in Florence.
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