FL Florence Y'alls

Freedom Swept in Twin Bill with Southern Illinois

Published on June 28, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


MARION,Il - Despite holding leads in both affairs, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, saw the Southern Illinois Miners storm back to steal a pair of 6-4, and, 2-1, wins in a Wednesday doubleheader at Rent One Park.

The Freedom (19-22) raced out to an early, 4-0, lead in game one, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second and third innings. Xavier Turner, who went on to collect his first three-hit night of the season in the contest, put Florence on the board first when he drove-in Andre Mercurio with a second inning stand-up double off Miners (20-18) starter Kurt Heyer (4-2). After the second Southern Illinois error of the inning pushed Turner to third base, Austin Wobrock delivered a two-out RBI-single to give Florence the early, 2-0, edge. One inning later, the Freedom doubled their lead courtesy a lead-off homer by Caleb Lopes, his first long-ball of the season, and a Jordan Brower RBI-double that plated Turner after he was hit by a pitch and stole second base.

Trailing, 4-0, in the bottom of the third, Harrison Bragg put the Miners on the board, taking right-hander Chuck Weaver (1-3) deep to right-center field for a solo-blast. The round-tripper was the first of three Miners homers in the opener. Southern Illinois would jump in front for the first time all night with a five-run bottom of the fifth. Romeo Cortina led-off the frame with his third home run of the season, cutting the Freedom lead in half at, 4-2. Three of the next four Miners hitters would record single, the latter of the RBI variety as Joe Duncan plated Ben Moore to make it a one run game. With two men on and two outs, Nolan Earley launched a mammoth homer to right field, spoiling the Weaver final line as the Miners moved in front by the eventual, 6-4 final.

After allowing just three hits and one run through his first four frames, Weaver left the game having allowed six earned runs on eight hits with no walks and two punch-outs over five innings of work en route to his third loss of the season.

Heyer settled in after the early onslaught to secure a quality start victory. The right-hander spanned six innings while allowing just a pair of earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

Game two was a showcase of two stellar starting pitching performances. Miners starter, Geno Encina carried a perfect game into the top of the fourth inning where Caleb Lopes thwarted the bid for history with a bunt-single. Skylar Ewing was hit by Encina's next offering as Florence set-up runners at first and second. An ensuing passed ball allowed Lopes to take third base, where he scored from on a Mercurio fielder's choice one batter later, giving Florence another early advantage, 1-0.

Freedom starter Cody Gray was spectacular throughout the start, recording his first six outs via strikeout on his way to a season high 11 punch-outs over five innings. At one point, Gray struck-out five batters in a row over the first and second innings, and didn't use his defense until Jimmy Heck made a diving play in right field to take a single away from Austin Homan in the bottom of the third.

Despite the sluggish start, the Miners managed to tie the game off Gray in the home half of the fifth. Bragg started the rally with a double down the line in left and came around to score one batter later when Homan shot a single into right.

Gray checked out after five heroic innings, allowing just one run on five hits with one walk and eleven whiffed batters on his way to the no-decision. Relievers Sam Martin and Tyler Gibson each added a pair clean frames over the following two innings, totaling three hits and three strikeouts in the process.

Encina would also take a no-decision for Southern Illinois, despite landing a quality start of his own with seven innings pitched, one-run allowed on five Freedom hits with no walks and three strikeouts. Right-hander, Kyle Tinius (3-0) faced the minimum in his lone inning of work in the top of the eighth.

With the score tied at, 1-1, in bottom of the eighth, Kyle Davis deposited the first pitch he saw from Freedom hurler, Brian McKenna (0-1) over the wall in left-center as the Miners earned a walk-off, 2-1, victory to secure the series in extra-innings.

Florence will look to salvage one game in this best of three series on Thursday, sending right-hander, Zach Kirby to the hill opposite newly-acquired Steven Ridings of Southern Illinois. First-pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. CT at Rent One Park.

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Frontier League Stories from June 28, 2018


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