Andrew Godbold had stellar game(Photo provided)
The Normal CornBelters salvaged one game of the three-game set with the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, 13-8.
After totaling 18 hits in the first two games of the series, Normal (16-23) matched that total in its game three win over Florence (12-26).
The Freedom took the first lead for the sixth time in the home stand, sending two home with two away in the first. Andrew Godbold ripped a double to score Taylor Oldham. Godbold then crossed the plate on a single from Collins Cuthrell.
The CornBelters took their first lead of the series with two-spots in the second and third, but it did not last long. The Freedom plated three more with two outs in the third to take a 5-4 lead. Godbold ripped a double and Cuthrell followed with a walk. Godbold scored on a wild pitch before Isaac Wenrich plated Cuthrell from second on a single.
The CornBelters broke the game open with seven runs on eight hits, including three home runs, in the fifth against a combination of Cody Gray and Davis Adkins. Gray finished four innings and allowed nine runs and 12 hits. Adkins allowed two runs on three hits later in the inning. When Adkins recorded the final out of the inning, Normal led 11-5.
The Freedom showed resiliency, bouncing back to pull within three. Godbold notched his third extra-base hit of the game with a two-run home run to right in the fifth, making the score 11-7. Then, Travis Weaver manufactured a run in the sixth, reaching on a fielder’s choice, moving to third in a hit-and-run play with Daniel Fraga, and then scoring on a groundout from Oldham.
Normal added a couple more in the seven and ninth, while limiting the Freedom offense to just one walk and one hit in the final three innings.
Godbold finished a stellar home stand with a 3-for-5 night with three runs and three RBIs. He finished the six-game stretch 12-for-24 with six doubles, three home runs, nine runs scored, and 12 RBIs. Garrett Vail added a pair of hits for the Freedom.
Out of the bullpen, Jeremy Hutchison and Matt Pobereyko both pitched scoreless frames, while Tony Vocca and Ethan Gibbons gave up one run each in the seventh and ninth innings respectively.
Aaron Dudley finished off his series in style with a 3-for-5 night, including four RBIs, a home run, and a double. Seven of Normal’s nine hitters had a multi-hit evening. Max Homick rode the offense to the victory.
The Freedom look to continue their recent success when they open up a series with the Lake Erie Crushers on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 with Davis Adkins (1-0, 4.50 ERA) throwing for Florence against Jordan Kraus (2-3, 4.39 ERA).
The Florence Freedom are members of the 12-team professional Independent Frontier League and play a 96 game schedule, with 48 home games at UC Health Stadium.In 2015, the Frontier League recognized the Freedom as the league’s organization of the year and awarded the team with the league’s All-Star event. The 2016 season will mark the 13th year the Freedom have played in Florence.
