The Florence Y’alls (35-53 overall) are trying to find positives as the regular season winds down.
They found some in the three-game series loss to the Evansville Otters (50-39) over the weekend. They won their final road game of the year Sunday in an 8-5 victory at Evansville’s Bosse Field. Florence is 5-4 against Evansville this year.
Florence scored four runs in the top of the first then added one in each of the second and third innings to build a 6-0 lead entering the bottom of the fourth. The Y’alls built an 8-1 lead in the top of the fifth.
Evansville made things interesting scoring four runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. But Joe Dougherty recorded his eighth save of the season pitching the ninth inning, striking out one.
Jonaiker Villalobos (6-7) started for Florence pitching into the seventh inning, striking out four and walking two. Karl Craigie finished the seventh before Cameron Pferrer pitched the eighth.
Designated hitter Luke Harper led the Y’alls going 3 for 4 with two doubles, one run batted in, and he scored twice. Shortstop Alberti Chavez went 2 for 5 and right fielder Lyndon Weaver stole two bases.
Evansville opened the series Friday with a 5-2 win over the Y’alls. The Otters are fighting to play host to the wild card round in the Frontier League West Division.
Brett Adcock (6-5) pitched seven strong innings for the Otters striking out nine and walking two. The Y’alls managed just four hits off him as Chavez went 2 for 4 and first baseman Brennan Price hit a solo home run in the top of the first to give the Y’alls their lone lead at 1-0.
Augie Gallardo pitched the eighth for Evansville before Logan Sawyer pitched the ninth recording his 22nd save this season. Neither allowed a hit.
Bobby Brabrand (2-6) started and pitched six innings for Florence striking out 10 and walking one. Craigie and Darrien Williams pitched one inning each.
The Y’alls lost a tough 4-3 game Saturday in extra innings. Florence once again took the lead in the first inning when Price belted another solo home run. Then in the second inning, right fielder Rodney Tennie landed a sacrifice bunt and reached on an error scoring third baseman Bryant Flete to give the Y’alls a 2-0 lead. Price is tied for seventh in the Frontier League with 22 home runs.
Florence outhit Evansville, 6-4. First baseman Axel Johnson went 2 for 4 to lead the Y’alls. His double in the top of the sixth scoring Price tied the game 3-3.
Jeremy Ovalle pitched six innings in the start for Florence striking out five and walking two. Evy Ruibal pitched the seventh and eighth for the Y’alls striking out four before Kent Klyman (2-4) pitched the ninth and 10th innings.
Evansville scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10th with one out. Pinch hitter J.R. Davis came in and singled in catcher Justin Felix from second to win the game. Per Frontier League extra-inning rules, Felix took second after making the last out of the ninth inning striking out.
Florence has a three-game series at Thomas More Stadium scheduled against the Joliet Slammers (46-43), who are still in the running to make the Frontier League playoffs. The first game starts Tuesday at 6:32 p.m.
