sfoggi posted on July 02, 2011 20:52
LEESBURG, Fla. (July 2, 2011) - Strong pitching led the way for the Orlando Freedom Saturday against the Leesburg Lightning, as the club grabbed the 3-2 victory in the low scoring affair.
The game moved quickly in the early going as just one run was scored in the first four innings. Just five combined hits were collected in the first four frames by the two squads, as the Lightning grabbed the first score in the bottom of the fourth.
The Freedom caught a break in the top of the fifth inning. Trailing 1-0, Chris Suto (Lake Sumter) hit a seemingly harmless pop up to second base. The ball was dropped and left Suto safe at first. The base runner then stole second and AJ Mackey (Gulf Coast CC) blasted a double in the left field gap to tie the score. Matt Frank (Jacksonville) followed with another double to the same part of the field to give Orlando a one-run advantage.
The Freedom squandered opportunities in both the fifth and seventh innings, failing to bring home runners from third with no outs on both occasions. The Freedom were 0-for-4 in the combined situations, while getting caught stealing twice.
Relief pitcher Brandan Keen (North Florida) ran into trouble in the seventh, but was able to work his way out of the jam. With runners on second and third with just one out, Keen fanned the number three hitter in the order before getting a groundout from the cleanup spot to work out of the inning. Through seven, the Freedom still held a 2-1 lead.
Orlando extended the lead in the top of the eighth inning thanks in part to several walks. Two walks and an infield single loaded the bases when Suto drew another walk to bring in a run. The Lightning returned the favor in the bottom of the inning tacking on a run to bring the score, again, within one.
Joe Burns (Samford) picked up the five-out save in the contest, coming in the eighth to control the damage and keep the lead. Burns allowed just a two-out hit in the ninth before recording the final out to give the Freedom the 3-2 victory.
Orlando collected eight hits in the game, including two by Mackey, who also knocked in a run. Frank and Suto added the other two RBIs for the squad.
Keen recorded his second victory on the season, allowing no runs on two hits in three innings of work. Starter Taylor Hammond (Samford) was solid as well, going four innings giving up just a run on five hits while fanning five.
The Freedom get back in action Sunday for their first home game in seven days against the Sanford River Rats. The two clubs were rained out in their last contest. Game time is slated for 5 pm.
Jake Snyder (Marshall University)