sfoggi posted on June 29, 2011 22:26
DELAND, Fla. (June 29, 2011) - The Orlando Freedom and the DeLand Suns played a doubleheader Wednesday evening to play catch-up from a Tuesday night rainout. The clubs split the two contests, which were shortened to seven innings apiece.
Game One
The Freedom took game one of the twinbill, 7-1, thanks in part to some timely hitting and a strong pitching outing by starter Tim Koons (Fort Scott CC).
Orlando got on the board first in the game in the top of the third inning. The club put up four runs in the inning, highlighted by a run scoring triple by Matt Mattone (Palm Beach St.). Mattone finished the game with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.
The Suns got one run back in the bottom of the inning; grabbing the only run Koons would surrender all night. The right-handed starter pitched six strong innings, allowing just two hits and one walk. He also fanned eight Sun hitters.
Orlando grabbed three more runs in the sixth inning to break the contest open. CJ Kelly (Seminole St.) came on in relief to close out the game in the seventh and give the Freedom their fourth victory in the last six games.
The Freedom scattered eight hits throughout the contest, including two hits by Mattone, Jason Anderson (Brevard CC) and Cory Angelo (West Florida). Six Orlando hitters scored at least one run.
Game Two
DeLand took the nightcap, 3-2, in a low scoring affair that remained close throughout.
Orlando struck first in the contest after Anthony Caronia (Tampa) led off the game with a walk. Caronia advanced to third and was plated by a one-out sac fly by Lawrence Pardo (Santa Fe). DeLand evened the contest with a run in the bottom of the inning and added another in the second to take a one run lead.
The Freedom knotted things at two in the third inning. Jake Huxtable (Jacksonville) was hit by a pitch with one out, and soon after, stole second. Chris Suto (Lake Sumter) followed with a single to bring Huxtable home and the score was tied.
Scoring halted until the bottom of the sixth when the Suns took the lead for good. After three free passes to load the bases, Steven Bellantoni (USC-Aiken) punched a single through the infield to bring home a run.
Dane Stone (St. Thomas) sat the Freedom hitters down in order in the seventh to close out the game and grabbed his first win of the season. Stone went two innings in relief, allowing no runs and no hits.
The Freedom will be back in action Thursday (June 30) in an early road contest against the Sanford River Rats. The game marks the halfway point of a five game road trip for Orlando. Game time slated for 11 am.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)