ORLANDO, Fla. (June 8, 2011) - The Orlando Freedom (1-4) were only able to plate three runs in Wednesday night’s contest against the DeLand Suns at Orel Hershiser Field, but the runs proved to be enough as a pitcher’s duel led the Freedom nabbing their first victory in the young season, 3-2.

 

Freedom starting pitcher, Corben Madden (Seminole St.), went six strong innings giving up just two runs (one earned), while striking out five. Madden earned the victory for Orlando, which recorded its first win in franchise history.

 

“We had our quote up in the clubhouse today and it was ‘We are going to win,’” Madden said of the first victory. “Everybody believed it and we went out there and did what we had to do to get our first W.”

 

The win was much needed for the struggling Freedom squad, after a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the Leesburg Lightning the night before. The loss Tuesday proved to be a slugfest, with the Lightning coming out on top, 9-8.

 

Wednesday night provided a different storyline for the Freedom, as scoring came at a premium for both sides.

 

The Suns (1-4) were able to get on the board immediately when leadoff hitter Steven Bellatoni (USC-Aiken) crushed a double down the right field line to start the game. Bellatoni, known for tremendous speed on the base paths, quickly swiped third and a botched double play ball brought the Suns’ runner home.

 

The Suns held the Freedom scoreless in the first and went quietly themselves in the top of the second. Orlando plated their first runs in the bottom half of the second after two batters reached base to begin the inning. With one out, A.J. Mackey (Gulf Coast CC) stepped to the plate and hit an infield single. A throwing error by the Suns allowed the first Freedom run to come home.

 

The Freedom were not done in the inning. Two batters later, with the bases loaded, second basemen Cory Angelo came up with a single in his first at-bat of the season for the Freedom to plate Aaron Spragg (Lipscomb) and Mackey, giving Orlando the 3-1 lead.

 

“I just tell these guys, keep swinging the bat,” Freedom Head Coach Scott Makarewicz said. “Don’t get too passive. Make sure you just see the ball and something good will happen. If you can put it hard in play, something good will happen for us.”

 

The Suns responded quickly in the top half of the third adding another run when Austen Barber (Winthrop) knocked a single that plated Brett Kneif (Seminole St.) closing the gap to 3-2.

 

Following the Suns’ score in the third, runs became impossible to come by. Madden and the Suns’ starting pitcher Austin Jackson (Florida Southern) both settled in and shut the opposing offenses down. Jackson finished with four innings of work, allowing three Freedom runs; Jackson also took the loss.

 

When the Freedom removed Madden after six innings of work, the Orlando bullpen went straight to work. The Freedom pen shut down the DeLand hitters, coming off a night where the bullpen allowed no earned runs to a potent Leesburg offense.

 

Ryan Caporice (UNC-Ashville), Joe Burns (Samford) and Ed Brandsema (Montevallo) each put in an inning of work, combining for two hits and no runs. Brandsema finished out the game, taking the Sun down in order to earn his first save of the season.

 

“All those guys had good outings their last time,” Makarewicz said. “That’s all I was looking for them to do, to come in, be solid, throw strikes and let our defense do their job. And that’s what happened.”

 

Top performances for the Freedom offense came from the bottom of the order as Mackey, Angelo, Chris Suto (Lake Sumter CC) and Matt Mattone (Palm Beach St.) combined for six hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored.

 

The Freedom will have a chance to make it two in a row Thursday (June 9) night as the Orlando club takes on the Winter Haven Loggerheads (3-2) on the road at Chain of Lakes Field. The Loggerheads downed the Freedom 8-4 in the two teams’ only matchup on the year on opening day for both squads. Game time is slated for 7 pm.