May 24 Florence Freedom Game Notes
Published on May 24, 2015 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE FREEDOM (5-3) @ EVANSVILLE OTTERS (6-2)
Sunday, May 24, 2015 - 6:05 p.m. ET
Historic Bosse Field - Evansville, IN
Game #9 - Road Game #3 (5-3), (0-2)
Florence: RHP #22 Coleman Stephens (2-0, 0.60 ERA)
Evansville: RHP #36 Tyler Vail (0-0, 9.00 ERA)
Last time out...
The Freedom lost a 4-3 heartbreaker last night. Florence got an early run but Evansville plated three in the third inning off Freedom starter David Duncan. A Dorgan sacrifice fly tied the game and Cory Urquhart singled home two more runs with two outs to make it 3-1 in favor of the Otters. The Freedom finally broke through in the eighth. Sam Eberle doubled to start the frame. Two outs later, pinch hitter Ryan Solberg singled home Eberle to make the score 3-2. Pinch hitter Gaby Juarbe singled Solberg to second. Travis Weaver singled Solberg home to tie the game. Evansville responded in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Daniel DeSimone. With two outs and nobody on, Kurt Wertz Jr. singled to right-center. Jake Luce misplayed the ball, allowing Wertz to advance to third. Then Josh Allen doubled him home to put the Otters up 4-3. Florence loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn't score.
For Starters...
Coleman Stephens is coming off an outstanding outing against his former team, the Frontier Greys. The right hander tossed eight innings of shutout ball, only allowing three hits, walking one and striking out seven. He has only allowed one run so far this season in 15 innings pitched. 2015 is his fourth season of professional baseball and his second go-around in the Frontier League. Florence acquired Stephens as part of a three-team trade on December 28, 2014, which saw Jacob Tanis head to Windy City. The right-hander made his professional debut in 2012 with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American Baseball League. Stephens split the 2013 season between the Fort Worth Cats of the United League and the Frontier Greys, compiling an 8-3 record in 20 appearances, 18 starts. Last season, Stephens played in the American Association, splitting time between Amarillo and Gary.
Trying to avoid the sweep...
The Freedom need a win tonight to avoid being swept by the Otters. Florence got swept a total of five times in 2014, three times away from home, and once at Historic Bosse Field. They have yet to be swept in 2015.
Leading after six...
In all five of the Freedom's wins this season they've held the lead after the completion of six innings. They have yet to lose when leading after six.
The right way?
The Freedom have yet to face a left handed starting pitcher in 2015, despite having a roster that features six left handed bats.
Run this way...
The Freedom's 20 stolen bases are tied for the most stolen bases in the league with Windy City. The Freedom swiped a season high seven bases last night.
On the Road...
The Freedom's loss yesterday continues their struggles on the road from last year. They struggled away from home in 2014, finishing 13-29 with only two road series wins.
Against the Otters...
The Freedom went 3-6 against the Evansville Otters in 2014. They particularly struggled at Historic Bosse Field, finishing the season 1-5 at the venerable ballpark and are off to a 0-2 start in 2015.
Frontier League Player of the Week...
Cody Bishop was named Frontier League Player of the Week for May 14-17. In his first season in the Frontier League as a member of the Florence Freedom, he recorded at least one hit in each game of his team's three-game sweep of the Joliet Slammers to open the 2015 season. Last Friday, Bishop went 3-4 with a home run, two doubles, one RBI, and one run scored in Florence's 6-5 victory. He then followed that performance with a 2-3 night on Saturday hitting his second home run of the season while scoring two runs and driving in one in a 10-4 rout of Joliet to complete the sweep.
Frontier League Stories from May 24, 2015
- Crushers drop series finale - Lake Erie Crushers
- Walk-Off Propels Boomers to Comeback Win - Schaumburg Boomers
- Grizzlies Come up Short against Slammers - Gateway Grizzlies
- Slammers Battle Elements to Earn Sweep - Joliet Slammers
- Miners Fall Just Short on Sunday - Southern Illinois Miners
- Otters Double up Freedom to Sweep Series - Florence Y'alls
- Otters Sweep Florence for Sixth Straight Win - Evansville Otters
- Washington Edges Normal 3-2 in Sunday Finale - Washington Wild Things
- Wild Things Salvage Game in Series over CornBelters - Normal CornBelters
- Nelson Signed by San Francisco Giants - Schaumburg Boomers
- May 24 Florence Freedom Game Notes - Florence Y'alls
- Evansville Otters Game Preview; Team Looking for Second Sweep in a Row - Evansville Otters
- Normal CornBelters Game Tonight - Normal CornBelters
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