by Carie Kuehn
NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, tied the score in the bottom of the ninth, but gave up two runs in the twelfth to drop the second game of the series to the Freedom 6-4 on Saturday night.
The CornBelters got on the board first. Mitch Elliott led off the game by reaching first after being hit by a pitch. He was advanced to second on a ground-out by Santiago Chirino. The next play he stole third and was able to reach home on the attempted throw to third.
The Freedom responded in the fourth inning. Austin Newell reached first and was followed by a two-run homer from Collins Cuthrell to give them the go-ahead run.
Florence extended the lead in the fifth inning. Belter starter Horacio Acosta hit the leadoff batter Daniel Fraga. Fraga stole second, and advanced to third on a ground-out. Newell hit a deep double to center to score Fraga and put the Freedom up 3-1.
The Belters made up some ground in the bottom of the fifth inning, starting with two consecutive walks to Dillon Haupt and Dylan Kelly. A single from R.J. Perucki loaded the bases, and an infield grounder from Ricky Claudio brought in Haupt. That’s all the damage the Belters could get done, leaving two on base but cutting it to a 3-2 Florence lead.
The Belters tied it up in the bottom of the ninth with a solo homer from Perucki, sending the game into extras.
In the eleventh inning, both teams were able to drive home the tie-breaker runner from second, leaving the score tied 4-4 and heading to the 12th.
The Freedom started with twelfth with a single from Josh Henderson to put runners at the corners. Isaac Wenrich hit a double to centerfield to score both base runners and put the score 6-4. The CornBelters were unable to answer.
Francisco Carillo (2-2) took the loss for the Belters, going three innings and allowing two hits and three runs with one walk and three strikeouts. Zach Wendorf (1-1) grabbed the win, pitching three innings and allowing one hit and one run, striking out four.
The last game before the All-Star break will be Sunday as the Belters take on the Freedom in the series finale. Chris Carmain (2-4) will take the mound for the Belters again the Freedom’s Jeremy Gooding (3-5). First pitch is 4:35 p.m. and the broadcast can be heard on WJBC.com.
