Otters Sweep Doubleheader As Freedom Drop Sixth Straight
Published on May 31, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
EVANSVILLE, In-- Mired in a six-game skid, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, scored just one run in a day-night doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Evansville Otters on Wednesday at Bosse Field.
Freedom (8-9) game one starter, Cody Gray (2-2) allowed a first inning run to the Otters (10-7) when a Ryan Long lead-off double paved the way to a Manny Cruz RBI-single to push Evansville in front, 1-0. Long would score from third on the one bagger, as a Connor Crane throwing error in right field after the double allowed him to reach third base. Evansville would not need another run the rest of the way, as Florence was shutout for the third time this season in the seven inning bout with their West Division foe.
The Otters would tally an insurance run in the fifth, courtesy a flare that fell into right field off the bat of Jeff Gardner, plating Pedro Barrios who doubled. This was the only earned run Gray would allow over six strong innings, scattering seven hits and walking two with four strikeouts.
Sean Adler (1-0) earned the win in relief for Evansville, entering the game for starter Patrick McGuff in the fourth inning after the ladder was forced from the contest with an apparent back injury. Adler spanned two frames allowing just one hit and no runs en route to his first win of the season. Mitchell Aker slammed the door for his sixth save, as the Otters emerged, 2-0, in the day-part of Wednesday's double dip.
Game two pitted Freedom southpaw, Marty Anderson (2-2) against Otters right-hander, Randy Wynne (2-2) in a second consecutive pitcher's duel at historic Bosse Field. Anderson would carry a no-hitter into the fifth inning, racking up seven strikeouts through his first four frames.
However, momentum swung to the home team in the fifth, as the Otters plated three runs on four hits with Cruz and Carlos Castro delivering RBI-knocks in addition to a Long sacrifice fly as Evansville enjoyed a, 3-0 lead entering the sixth.
With Aker on to convert his second save of the evening in the top of the seventh, the Freedom rallied to load the bases courtesy an Andre Mercurio hit-by-pitch and back-back singles from Keivan Berges and Craig Lepre. However, the Freedom only managed to score one run on an Austin Wobrock sac fly, as Aker whiffed a pair on his way to his seventh save of the year in an Evansville, 3-1, victory.
The Freedom will look to avoid their second consecutive sweep tomorrow when these two teams collide in the finale at Bosse Field. Florence will send right-hander Steve Hagen to the mound opposite righty Tyler Vail of the Otters with first pitch slated for 6:30 p.m.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
Frontier League Stories from May 31, 2018
- Third Straight Bums Comeback Thwarted in Extra Innings - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Boomers Score Abbreviated Sweep of Windy City - Schaumburg Boomers
- Crushers score two in 11th to avoid Traverse City sweep - Lake Erie Crushers
- Thursday's Game vs Normal Postponed - Southern Illinois Miners
- Series Finale against Freedom Postponed - Evansville Otters
- CornBelters Split Doubleheader with Miners - Normal CornBelters
- Otters Sweep Doubleheader As Freedom Drop Sixth Straight - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Split Wednesday Doubleheader with CornBelters - Southern Illinois Miners
- Boomers Rally to Road Victory - Schaumburg Boomers
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