CornBelters Split Doubleheader at Florence
Published on August 29, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release
FLORENCE, Ky. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, lost the first game of a doubleheader to the Florence Freedom 5-1 but rebounded for a 2-1 nightcap win on Wednesday night at UC Heath Stadium.
In Game 1, the CornBelters struck quickly with a home run by Derrick Loveless in the first inning, but that was all of their scoring. The Freedom countered with a run in the first on a Skyler Ewing double and three more in the second inning on a double by Taylor Bryant and a two-run single by Austin Wobrock. Ewing knocked home the Freedom's final run with a single in the fifth inning.
Jordan Kraus (8-5) earned the win, going 5 2/3 innings with one earned run on five hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Nick Bozman (6-2) took the loss, lasting just two innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Game 2 was scoreless until the Belters plated both of their runs in the fifth inning on RBI singles from Cam Adams and Michael Baca. The Freedom threatened in their final time up on a run-scoring double by John Price Jr., but with the potential tying and winning runs at second and third, Baca made a diving stop of a drive at third base and gunned out Wobrock to end the game.
Jacinto Garcia (6-5) worked five shutout innings for the win, surrendering just three hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Jonathan de Marte tossed the final two innings for his seventh save. Steve Hagen (7-7) threw 6 2/3 innings and received the loss, giving up two earned runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts.
The CornBelters (47-44) are 1 1/2 games behind River City, in fourth place in the Frontier League West Division, but are just a half-game behind Florence and Evansville, who are tied for the final wild card playoff spot.
The CornBelters face the Freedom in the series finale at 5:35 p.m. Central in suburban Cincinnati before returning to Normal for the final three regular season games in a crucial series with the Evansville Otters at the Corn Crib on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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