FL Florence Y'alls

Isler's Strong Start Leads Freedom to Second Victory

May 21, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


Andrew Godbold of the Florence Freedom Sends a Liner toward First
Andrew Godbold of the Florence Freedom Sends a Liner toward First
(Florence Y'alls)

Evansville, Ind. - Local product Zach Isler tossed six innings of two-run ball as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, snapped their losing streak with a 4-2 win over Evansville.

Offensively, the Freedom manufactured their first three runs. It began when Daniel Fraga led off the game by singling right back up the middle. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and stole third before sprinting home on an RBI groundout by Collins Cuthrell.

Run-scoring groundouts were a theme for Florence in the first two innings. In the second, Andrew Godbold started the inning with a double and then stole third. Travis Weaver, the next batter, hit a ball to the shortstop that plated Godbold and put Florence ahead 2-0. History repeated itself later in the inning as Garrett Vail doubled down the right-field line and, after he stole third, Andre Mercurio dove him in with a soft ground ball to the right side.

The Otters scored once in the bottom of the second inning off of Isler, but that was the Otters' only earned run in the game. After that Isler settled in, earning the win by allowing just two hits in his final four innings of work. With the score 3-2 in the seventh, Isler turned it over to TJ Bozeman who allowed a single, but the runner was erased on a double play. Taylor Oldham started the play by charging and firing a strike to second across his body to Daniel Fraga who provided the turn.

Bozeman ran into some trouble in the eighth, walking the leadoff batter on four pitches and then muffing a sacrifice bunt attempt. With two men on and nobody out, Manager Dennis Pelfrey called on Ethan Gibbons for a six-out save and he delivered. The next batter, John Schultz, hit a soft liner to center that Mercurio tracked down. The runner on second, Ronaldo Gomez, thought the ball would fall and was doubled off at second. Gibbons then forced another liner to center to end the inning.

In the ninth, Andrew Godbold drove a home run to right-center field, adding an insurance run for the Freedom. Gibbons allowed a two-out hit, but earned the save and sent the Freedom to a victory with three ninth-inning strikeouts.

Godbold led the Florence offense by going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and two runs scored. Fraga also added two hits.

Hunter Ackerman took the loss, allowing three runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, while Tyler Thompson retired seven of the eight batters he faced, but gave up the home run to Godbold.

Florence looks to take the series in game three tomorrow. Newly acquired Stetson Nelson will take the hill for the first time in a Freedom uniform. Evansville will counter with Peyton Baskette (1-0, 9.00 ERA) and first pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. local time, 6:05 p.m. Eastern.

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Andrew Godbold of the Florence Freedom Sends a Liner toward First
Andrew Godbold of the Florence Freedom Sends a Liner toward First
   



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