CornBelters 9th-inning rally falls short as Carmain deals complete game in loss

Posted on September 3, 2016

By Greg Halbleib

The Normal CornBelters furiously rallied in the ninth inning to support a complete-game pitching performance by Chris Carmain but fell 4-3 to the Florence Freedom win on Saturday afternoon at the Corn Crib.

The Belters put two aboard in the third and fifth innings but did not score, and the Freedom broke through in their first scoring opportunity in the sixth inning with a two-run single by Collins Cuthrell.

Taylor Oldham added a two-run homer to left for the guests on a two-out rally in the seventh inning.

The CornBelters feverishly rallied in the ninth inning as Aaron Dudley led off with a home run to right followed by a single by Nolan Meadows and an RBI double by Dillon Haupt, with Haupt scoring on a failed double play, but a line-out double play ended the game.

Carmain (7-9) threw his second complete game of the season but took the loss, throwing 152 pitches while giving up four earned runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. His outing was nearly matched by Freedom rookie lefty Braulio Torres-Perez (4-0), who went eight-plus innings with three earned runs on 10 hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Pete Levitt entered the contest to record the final three outs for his first save.

The season concludes Sunday with a 4:35 p.m. game at the Corn Crib with lefty Max Homick (4-6, 3.81 ERA) starting on the mound for the Belters as the Freedom counter with right-hander Jordan Kraus (4-4, 2.88). The game can be heard live on WJBC.com beginning at 4:20.

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