FL Florence Y'alls

Missed Opportunities Doom Freedom

September 4, 2015 - Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


(Marion, IL) - The Florence Freedom (48-46), presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, missed multiple chances to take the lead down the stretch in a tough 3-2 loss to the Southern Illinois Miners (62-32) Friday night.

Aaron Gates hit a walk-off home run off Tony Vocca (3-4) in the bottom of the ninth to win the game for Southern Illinois.

Despite the loss, the Freedom reduce their magic number to two to make the playoffs as Rockford and Evansville both lost. They are currently tied with Rockford and Evansville for the final spot in the post-season with two regular season games remaining. If the season were to end in a three-way tie, Evansville and Florence would make the playoffs. Florence holds the tiebreaker over Rockford but does not hold it over Evansville.

Southern Illinois got on the board first thanks to a Craig Massey solo home run off Florence starter Patrick McGrath. They tacked on another run in the third thanks to a Gates RBI single. The singled scored Massey, who had doubled with two outs. Freedom skipper Dennis Pelfrey got ejected from the game arguing whether Massey's double was fair or foul.

Florence rallied in the fourth inning as Austin Newell drew a lead-off walk. He would steal second and two outs later Isaac Wenrich singled him home.

Florence tied it up against Southern Illinois starter Adam Lopez in the fifth. This time it was Josh Henderson drawing the lead-off walk. He would advance to second on a wild pitch. Steve Carrillo drew a walk as well. Lopez tried to pick-off Henderson at second but the throw got away and both runners moved up 90 feet with nobody out. Daniel Fraga's RBI grounder plated Henderson to tie the game. But Carrillo was left stranded at third as the next two hitters also grounded out.

Missed opportunities like that killed Florence down the stretch.

Andrew Godbold walked to start the seventh. But with one away Steve Carrillo struck out on a steal attempt by Godbold. Godbold was ruled out due to batter's interference and the inning was over.

Southern Illinois reliever Evan Mott walked the first two batters in the eighth. But a failed Austin Newell bunt was caught in the air by catcher Toby DeMello for the first out of the inning. Then the Freedom attempted a double steal and Zac Mitchell was thrown out at second by DeMello. Reliever Eric Green (8-3) got Sam Eberle to ground out to end the inning.

In the top of the ninth, Frazier Hall drew a lead-off walk. Zack Burling entered the game as a pinch runner. He stole second and moved to third as the throw got away. But on the play Isaac Wenrich struck out. Then Andrew Godbold struck out. Josh Henderson struck out as well, leaving Burling stranded at third.

Then Gates made the Freedom pay for the missed chances by leading off the ninth with his homer off Vocca.

Florence has a chance to clinch a spot in the playoffs on Saturday if they win and Rockford loses. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. eastern time with Zach Wendorf (2-1, 2.26 ERA) on the hill.

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