CornBelters rally in 8th to win season finale

Posted on September 5, 2016
Brooks Carey
Sunday’s win was the 200th win for Manager Brooks Carey. (Photo courtesy Normal CornBelters)

By Greg Halbleib

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters rallied for a pair of runs in the eighth inning for a 4-2 season-ending win over the Florence Freedom on Sunday at the Corn Crib.

The CornBelters finish the 2016 season with a record of 45-50. The win was the 200th for Brooks Carey as CornBelters manager.

The CornBelters struck first in the third inning as Jacoby Middleton drew a lead-off walk, was bunted to second by Justin Fletcher and scored on a single to shallow center by Elvin Rodriguez.

The Freedom tied the contest at 1-1 in the fifth as Jordan Brower singled to lead off and was plated by a double to the left field corner by Travis Weaver.

Florence grabbed a 2-1 lead in the sixth off reliever Race Parmenter, who walked the first two hitters in the inning and balked in the go-ahead run.

The Belters tied the affair at 2-2 in their sixth inning when Nolan Meadows clubbed a one-out double, moved to third on a foul out and scored on a floating line single to center by Dylan Kelly.

The CornBelters rallied in the eighth inning by loading the bases and scoring on a walk to Ty Morris and a passed ball for a 4-2 advantage.

Francisco Carillo (3-2) earned the win by working the final two innings in relief. Patrick McGrath (2-6) took the loss.

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