A five-run rally in the third inning would prove to be more than needed, as the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, defeated the Washington Wild Things, 9-2, on Friday night at Wild Things Park.
The Freedom (10-3) torched Washington (8-5) starter Jordan Schwartz (1-1) for five hits in the top of the third, knocking the right-hander out of the game with two outs in the inning. Daniel Fraga delivered a RBI-single to left field for the game’s first run, and Jose Brizuela and Collins Cuthrell each provided two-run singles for a 5-0 cushion.
Andrew Godbold went 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and two run-scoring singles, while Mike Morris contributed two hits and a RBI of his own, leading Florence with three runs scored. Each Freedom player collected at least one hit in the game.
In just his second start of the season, Logan Longwith (2-0) dominated the Wild Things through a season-high seven innings, retiring his first ten batters faced en route to a five-hit, three-strikeout performance.
Washington’s only run off Longwith came on a solo home run to left field by Kyle Reese in the fourth inning. Reese would also plate Washington’s final run of the night, scoring Kyle Pollock from third on a sacrifice fly to center against reliever Jalen Miller in the eighth.
Matt Pobereyko struck out two batters in a perfect ninth inning, giving the Freedom a second straight win and snapping Washington’s four-game winning streak.
The series continues Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Wild Things Park. Left-hander Marty Anderson (1-0) will start for the Freedom, while the Wild Things will counter with Hunter Williams (0-1).
Group tickets and season ticket plans are currently on sale for the 2017 campaign. Fans can guarantee seating for premium promotional dates by calling the Freedom at 859-594-4487.
Florence Freedom
