Freedom 8 Bolts 1
FLORENCE, KY – Sam Eberle had four hits and five RBIs for the Florence Freedom, who defeated the ThunderBolts 8-1 in the series opener at UC Health Stadium Tuesday night.
Eberle got the scoring started in the first inning for Florence (47-44) following a walk with a two-run homer to make it 2-0.
The Freedom added a run on back-to-back doubles in the third for Austin Newell and Eberle.
The ThunderBolts (39-52) did not have a baserunner through four innings as Cody Gray retired the first 14 men he faced. Ransom LaLonde drew a walk in the fifth but Gray maintained a no-hitter into the sixth.
The Freedom broke the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs. Eberle hit a two-run double and Steve Carrillo, who had singled, scored on an error. Frazier Hall’s sacrifice fly brought home Eberle to make it 7-0.
Alex Chittenden singled to lead off the sixth, the first hit for Windy City. Tyler Clark followed with a single, but the Bolts stranded two runners and did not score.
They got on the board in the eighth when former Freedom Jacob Tanis reached on an error, moved to second on a Coco Johnson walk and crossed the plate on a Mike Torres single.
Florence added a run in the bottom of the eighth to put it away at 8-1.
Gray (4-2) pitched six two-hit innings for the win and Cameron Giannini (4-2) allowed seven runs (five earned) over 4.1 innings for the loss. Austin Delmotte pitched three frames and notched his second save.
The ThunderBolts will continue their season-ending six-game road trip with a morning game in Florence on Wednesday. Travis Tingle (6-7, 3.12) will start game two for the Bolts against Florence’s Coleman Stephens (4-4, 4.30). Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 CDT and the broadcast can be heard on WXAV 88.3 FM and wxav.com.
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