By WJBC Staff
FLORENCE – The Normal CornBelters split a doubleheader with the Florence Freedom, losing the opener 13-3 and rebounding for a 6-1 nightcap win on Thursday night at UC Health Stadium.
In the opener, the Freedom loaded the bases with no outs on two walks and a hit batter, scoring one on a wild pitch but ending the frame on a double play on a baserunning blunder and a ground out. Andrew Godbold led off the fourth inning with a home run to left center to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Freedom exploded in the fifth inning with 14 men coming to the plate scoring 10 times, including a three-run homer by Collins Cuthrell, a two-run single by Daniel Fraga, a two-run triple by Taylor Oldham and RBIs from Godbold, Josh Henderson and Travis Weaver.
The CornBelters scored three in the sixth inning with an RBI single by Dylan Kelly and bases-loaded walks to Elvin Rodriguez and Ty Morris to cut the Freedom advantage to 12-3.
Cuthrell hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field in the sixth inning for the opener’s final score.
Jeremy Gooding (7-6) worked five and two-thirds innings for the victory, giving up two earned runs on nine hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Mike Schweiss (7-6) took the loss with four-plus innings, giving up six earned runs on five hits with five walks and two strikeouts.
In the nightcap, the CornBelters put up a crooked number right away with four runs in the opening frame. A fly ball by Nolan Meadows was misplayed in left field to score Morris followed by a two-run base hit by Kelly and a sacrifice fly by Justin Fletcher. A triple by Morris and consecutive doubles by Santiago Chirino and Aaron Dudley added two more runs in the second inning for a 6-0 advantage.
The Freedom entered the scoring in the third inning with a lead-off home run to right center field by Isaac Wenrich to cut the Normal lead to 6-1. The hosts added two runs in the sixth frame with a bases-loaded walk to Godbold and a double play.
Chris Carmain (7-6) earned the win with five-plus innings, giving up three earned runs on three hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Cody Gray (7-2) took the loss with five innings on the hill, giving up six runs (four earned) on four hits with five walks and three strikeouts. Brennan Smith worked the final frame for his sixth save.
The series concludes Thursday with a 6:05 p.m. Central first pitch in suburban Cincinnati as the Belters send Horacio Acosta (7-3, 3.65 ERA) to the mound while the Freedom give the ball to Jordan Kraus (2-4, 3.24) in a match-up of right-handers. The game can be heard live on WJBC.com at 5:50.
