Freedom Drop Finale with Miners
August 25, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Game Recap: Freedom Drop Finale with Miners
(Florence Y'alls, Credit: Katie Stratman)
Marion, Ill. - The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, scored the first six runs of the ballgame, but a big sixth inning and a walk-off single from Steve Marino sent the Southern Illinois Miners to a 7-6 victory.
Florence (39-48) jumped all over Southern Illinois (58-29) starter Dyllon Nuernberg with five runs in the first inning. Daniel Fraga looped a single to center and then Taylor Oldham bunted for a hit. A one-out walk from Austin Newell loaded the bases and Collins Cuthrell gave the Freedom the lead with a deep sacrifice fly to left-center. Josh Henderson then drove in a pair with a single back up the box and Florence led 3-0. Jordan Brower reached on an infield single and Henderson darted for third, the throw sailed into the seats, sending Henderson home and Brower to third. Isaac Wenrich walked and Travis Weaver knocked in the fifth run for the Freedom with a base hit through the right side.
Florence starter Cody Gray dominated the Miners offense the first time through the order, reaching his season high in strikeouts by fanning six of the first nine batters. The Miners put two men on base in the third and the fourth, but Gray stranded all four.
In the fifth, a pair of hits put the Freedom ahead 6-0. Cuthrell singled to left and then Brower drove him in from second with a base hit to right.
Southern Illinois scored their first run in the fifth before plating five in the sixth to tie the game at six. The Miners used three hits, two walks, a hit batter, and three Florence errors in the big sixth. The Freedom finished their six-game road trip with 17 errors.
The Miners looked to plate the go-ahead run in the eighth, but Patrick McGrath stranded Brandon Cummins at third to keep the game tied.
In the top of the ninth, the Freedom loaded the bases with just one out against Southern Illinois' closer Adam Lopez. Lopez had not allowed a run in over 20 innings this season and escaped the jam by forcing Cuthrell to bounce into a 1-2-3 double play.
In the bottom of the ninth, a walk put Craig Massey on base and he moved to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Marino recorded just his second hit of the series to drive Massey home and give the Miners the victory.
Brower posted the only multi-hit game for the Freedom, while the other six hits were spread out between Fraga, Oldham, Andrew Godbold, Cuthrell, Henderson, and Weaver. Cody Gray finished 5 2/3 innings, striking out a season-high seven. Pete Levitt, Evan Bickett, and McGrath all had scoreless appearances out of the Freedom's bullpen, while TJ Bozeman took the loss.
After getting out of the jam, Lopez got the win, while Massey had three hits, two driven in, and scored the winning run.
The Freedom begin their final home stand of the year tomorrow with a matchup against the Gateway Grizzlies. Tony Vocca (1-2, 3.54 ERA) takes the mound for Florence in a 7:05 p.m. first pitch. For more information on the promotions this weekend, including Superhero Night tomorrow, click here.
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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 Game Recap: Freedom Drop Finale with Miners (Katie Stratman) |
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