Freedom Split Double Header with Rascals
Published on August 8, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
(O'Fallon, MO) - The Florence Freedom (28-42) and the River City Rascals (44-28) split a double header on Friday with the Rascals winning game one by a score of 7-4 and the Freedom winning game two by a count of 9-4.
Game one was a scoreless battle until the top of the fifth inning as Dave Middendorf (4-7) and Bryce Shafer battled on the mound. Florence broke through against Shafer in the top of fifth as Cole Miles singled with two away. Tyler Heck was hit by a pitch and Sam Eberle delivered a RBI single to drive home Miles as Florence took a 1-0 lead.
But it wouldn't last as Johnny Morales singled with one away. Then with two away Jon Myers reached on an error by Heck, putting runners at first and second. Brian McConkey followed with a RBI single to tie the game at one.
River City used the big inning to burn Florence for the second straight game as they scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday. Curran Redal singled to lead-off the inning and the Freedom took Middendorf out of the game in favor of Chris Squires. With one away Hector Crespo reached on a single. Then Squires gave up a single to Eric Williams to load the bases. A walk forced in the go-ahead run and the Freedom brought in Pete Levitt.
Levitt got the second out of the inning when Saxon Butler hit a sacrifice fly to extend the River City lead to 3-1. But the big blow was delivered by Jon Myers when he launched a three-run home run to make the score 6-1 in favor of River City. Brian McConkey singled, Joe Staley walked and Curran Redal singled to re-load the bases. An error by Sam Eberle allowed the final run of the inning before Levitt got Hector Crespo to ground out to end the inning.
Florence tallied three runs in the top of the seventh as Sam Eberle delivered a RBI double and Buddy Sosnoskie smacked a two-RBI two bagger of his own. But it wasn't enough as River City held on to win by three.
Florence bounced back in a big way to snap their seven-game road losing streak in game two.
Sam Eberle launched a solo home run in the first against River City starter Tommy Mendoza (5-3) to give Florence an early 1-0 lead. But River City took a 2-1 edge on a Butler two-RBI single in the bottom of the frame.
This time it was the Freedom using a big inning to take command of the game as they scored four runs in the second inning. Doug Joyce got things started with a double. Bryan Soloman followed with his first professional hit, a sharp single off the right field wall. Zak Blair doubled home Joyce and Soloman advanced to third on the play. Tyler Heck got hit by a pitch. Miles followed with a sacrifice fly and a throwing error by the Rascals allowed another run to score. A Buddy Sosnoskie sacrifice fly tallied the fourth run of the inning. Adam Taylor launched a solo home run in the third to extend the Freedom's lead to 6-2. In the fourth the Freedom added two more runs as Blair walked to start the frame. Tyler Heck delivered his first professional hit with a RBI double to drive home Blair. A Sosnoskie double drove in Heck and Freedom took an 8-2 lead.
River City scored two in the fifth but the Freedom added an insurance run for the final margin thanks to an Eberle RBI double in the sixth.
Florence returns home Saturday night to take the Normal CornBelters. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. as Casey Henn (5-5, 3.27 ERA) takes the hill.
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Frontier League Stories from August 8, 2014
- Walks Doom Aviators; Fall 12-1 - Rockford Aviators
- Freedom Split Double Header with Rascals - Florence Y'alls
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- Wild Things Drop a Thriller 5-4 - Washington Wild Things
- Beach Bums Blow Past Greys 7-0 - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Tammy Williams Hits Go-Ahead Homerun in Chicago's 4-1 Win - Washington Wild Things
- August 8 Florence Freedom Double Header Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Split Doubleheader in Two-Day Marathon - Evansville Otters
- Slammers Split a Doubleheader with Evansville Late Thursday - Joliet Slammers
- Table setters Hertler, Stevens pace Crushers in win over Rockford - Lake Erie Crushers
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