Homers Lift Freedom Past Grizzlies
August 26, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
Game Recap: Homers Lift Freedom Past Grizzlies
(Florence Y'alls)
Florence, Ky. - Andrew Godbold and Shaun Cooper launched homers in support of a solid start from Tony Vocca as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solution, defeated the Gateway Grizzlies 8-4.
The two big swings were all the Freedom would need offensively as Vocca pitched on both ends of a 57-minute rain delay, totaling a career-high seven innings.
Both teams plated a run in the first. The Freedom answered Gateway's tally with an Austin Newell double, scoring Taylor Oldham.
Florence took their first lead in the third. Oldham bunted for a hit and then a walk put two men on with nobody out. Newell singled, but Oldham was cut down at the plate to keep the game tied. The next batter, Cooper, launched a three-run shot to left field, sending the Freedom out in front 4-1.
With the Freedom batting in the fourth, a thunderstorm, including a lightning strike just South of the ballpark, forced the game into a 57-minute stoppage.
On the first pitch after the rain delay, Godbold laced a single back up the box to score Travis Weaver and give Florence a 5-1 edge.
After a trio of runs for Gateway against Vocca in the fifth, Godbold answered back with one big swing of the bat. His towering home run to left field extended the Freedom lead back to four at 8-4.
Vocca only had one hiccup, the three-run, four-hit fifth (his first inning out of the rain delay). He allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Zach Wendorf finished off the final two innings, giving up one walk, while striking out three.
Godbold totaled four driven in and a pair of hits, while Newell had a single, a double, and an RBI. Jon Jones took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) in 3 2/3 innings before the delay ended his outing.
The Freedom take on the Grizzlies in game two of the series tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Braulio Torres-Perez (2-0, 3.20 ERA) will be on the hill for Florence against another lefty Corey Kimes (4-4, 3.78 ERA). 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: Homers Lift Freedom Past Grizzlies |
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