FL Florence Y'alls

Offense Sparks Early as Freedom Take Series Opener

Published on July 22, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release


Florence, Ky. - The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, scored early and held on late in a 7-6 victory over Joliet.

With the win, the Freedom (24-33) improve to 2-2 on the season against the Slammers (30-27).

Florence took the lead in the first inning on a two-run home run from Travis Weaver. It was Weaver's third home run of the year, eclipsing the total he accumulated in his first five seasons of professional baseball.

Joliet scored four in the third, including a three-run shot from Alfredo Rodriguez, to take the lead 4-2 before the Freedom stormed back in the bottom of the inning.

Andrew Godbold started the rally with a one-out single. Josh Henderson followed with another base hit and Garrett Vail reached on an error, bringing home Godbold and putting the Freedom within one at 4-3. After another single from newcomer Shaun Cooper loaded the bases, Mason Salazar cleared them with a double to left, pulling the Freedom ahead 6-4. Salazar later scored in the inning on a base knock from Taylor Oldham and the Freedom led 7-4 after three.

The Slammers slowly chipped away, scoring one in the fourth and the seventh, but some clutch pitching kept the Freedom out in front.

After recording two quick strikeouts in the sixth, Florence starter Jeremy Gooding allowed three consecutive men to reach. Gooding escaped the jam by striking out Casey Fletcher. Florence's starter took the victory tossing six innings and allowing five runs, while striking out eight.

In the next inning, Joliet pulled within one and threatened to tie. With two outs and the tying run 90 feet away, the Freedom called upon Pete Levitt and the right-hander forced a fielder's choice to end the threat.

TJ Bozeman pitched a 1-2-3 eighth, his fifth scoreless inning in a row, and Ethan Gibbons shut down the Slammers in the ninth for his seventh save of the season.

The eighth and ninth place hitters in the lineup, Salazar and Weaver, accounted for the biggest hits of the day and five RBIs. Oldham plated the other run, while Weaver posted the only multi-hit game for the Freedom.

Spencer Medick took his second loss of the season against the Freedom, allowing seven runs (five earned) in 2 2/3 innings. Rodriguez had the biggest hit of the day for Joliet, a three-run home run in the third.

The Freedom host Joliet tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Florence's Cody Gray (3-1, 4.23 ERA) will take on Sean Townsley (4-4, 4.36 ERA). To learn more about the upcoming promotions, 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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Frontier League Stories from July 22, 2016


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