The Florence Freedom (12-18) earned their first road series victory of the season with a 3-0 defeat of the Lake Erie Crushers (10-17) in five innings Thursday night at All Pro Freight Stadium.
Jeremy Gooding (2-0) was the star of the show for the Freedom, tossing five shutout innings and only allowing one hit. He struck out five batters and did not walk anyone in the victory.
Florence broke through with three runs in the fifth against reliever Zac Treece (0-1). Steve Carrillo got things going with a single down the left field line. Travis Weaver bunted him over and Carrillo advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Sean Mahley reached on an infield single, Daniel Fraga singled home Carrillo on a perfect hit-and-run with Mahley advancing to third on the play. With two outs, Austin Newell doubled home Mahley and Fraga to extend the lead to 3-0.
That’s all Gooding and the elements needed as the rains came after the completion of the bottom of the fifth, making it an official game and a Freedom victory.
With the win the Freedom win their first road series of 2015 and win back-to-back games on the road for the first time this season as well. They return home Friday night to take on the Southern Illinois Miners with Chuck Weaver (2-1, 3.52 ERA) taking the hill for Florence. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
-Staff report/Image provided
