sfoggi posted on July 06, 2011 22:22
ORLANDO (July 6, 2011) – A solid pitching performance from Bryan Poland, along with timely hitting, lifted the Winter Haven Loggerheads over the Orlando Freedom, 11-3, Wednesday night at Orel Hershiser Field.
Winter Haven combined for 14 hits, two of which were home runs from Justin Burgess (Montevallo) and Kevin Clements (Trinity). Burgess and Clements each had three hits off the Freedom, to go along with three runs and two RBIs, while Burgess added a stolen base.
Clements hit the first home run of the contest in the top of the second to push the Loggerheads lead to 3-0. In the top of the fourth, Burgess hit a two-run blast over the left field fence wall to give Winter Haven a 7-2 cushion.
The fourth inning would be the contributing factor to the Loggerhead’s victory; Winter Haven put up a four-run fourth. Cody Slaughter (Brown) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a base hit by Clements. A balk by Freedom reliever Kyle Rose (Georgia Tech) would score Slaughter and advance Clements to second. A Wes Perkins (Millsaps College) single to center would plate Clements for the fifth Winter Haven run. Two batters later, Burgess hit his first home run of the summer.
Along with the Loggerheads three runs in the first two frames and the four-run fourth, Winter Haven scored lone runs in the fifth and sixth and added a pair of runs in the final inning of play.
The Freedom would have an opportunity to put some runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a groundout from Robbie Haben (George Washington), Orlando knocked in back-to-back hits to put runners on first and second. A fielder’s choice by Zach Houck (Jacksonville) would leave runners on the corners and would be the final scoring opportunity of the inning for the Freedom, as a groundout to second would end Orlando’s threat.
Next to the Loggerhead’s timely hitting, Winter Haven starting pitcher Bryan Poland (Benedictine College) put on a solid pitching performance. The right-hander worked eight full innings, giving up two runs and recording four strikeouts. Poland (2-1) was credited with the win.
All but one Loggerhead recorded at least one hit in the evening’s contest; Sam Halpern (Barry) joined Burgess and Clements with three hits.
Orlando starting pitcher Tim Koons (Fort Scott CC) was charged with the loss tossing 3 1/3 innings.
The Loggerheads will return to Chain of Lakes Park on Friday, July 8 as Winter Haven plays host to the DeLand Suns for two. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.