FLORENCE, Kent. -- A day after piling up 19 base hits in a losing effort, the Florence Freedom (26-25) compiled 18 more base hits to rout the Windy City ThunderBolts (26-24), 10-3, in the rubber match of a three-game series at Champion Window Field.
With the loss coupled with victories by Gateway and Southern Illinois, the ThunderBolts fell to a half-game behind the Grizzlies and Miners for first place in the Frontier League's West Division.
The game was the final contest before the Frontier League All-Star Break.
Spot-starter Isaac Hess (2-4) suffered the loss for Windy City, allowing 12 hits and six runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Florence reliever Chris Ingoglia (4-4) earned the victory, hurling 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Ingoglia replaced Freedom starter Liam Shanahan with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning and set down Josh Horn and Brett Amyx to end the threat.
In defeat, Wes Long went 3-for-4 with a walk and Danny Sawyer added two base hits, including an RBI double, in four at-bats.
For the hometown Freedom, third baseman Kelly Hunt slugged his league-leading 19th home run of the season to lead the way. Every member of the Florence starting lineup collected at least one base hit, with seven players achieving multi-hit showings.
The Frontier League All-Star Game will be held on Wednesday, July 16, at Wuerfel Park in Traverse City, Michigan. Windy City will be represented by centerfielder Mike Coles, first baseman Phil Hawke, third baseman Josh Horn and pitchers Jason Lowey and Stephen Flake.
The ThunderBolts return to action at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, July 18, at Standard Bank Stadium, beginning a six-game homestand with a three-game series against the Southern Illinois Miners.
