Let Freedom Reign: Florence Team Outslams Slammers

Drew Rundle drove in eight runs and hit two home runs including a grand slam as the Florence Freedom (7-4) beat the Joliet Slammers (5-6) by a final score of 15-6 Wednesday afternoon.

Joliet got off to a good start in the second inning. With one away Kyle Maunus smacked a solo home run to give Joliet a 1-0 lead. Then with two down Ben Hewett drew a walk.

That brought Brian Smith to the plate. Smith, normally a pitcher, started in right field for Joliet Wednesday due to injuries to Josh Flores and Bobby Leeper. The Northern Illinois alumnus made the most of his opportunity as he singled to left. Rundle misplayed the ball and Hewett scored all the way from first.

After Hector Pellot was hit by a pitch, Brad Netzel came up big with a two-RBI double to give the Slammers a 4-0 lead.

It would not last long though as the Freedom put up a seven-spot on former Cub Billy Petrick in the third.

Junior Arrojo started things off with a double. Cole Miles blooped a double of his own to drive in Arrojo. One out later Petrick walked Jimmy Baker and gave up a RBI single to Stephen Shults. Another walk loaded the bases and Chris Curley tied the game with a two-RBI single. That’s when Rundle hit his first homer of the afternoon and Florence was up 7-4.

Petrick did not survive the inning as he hit the next batter and gave up a single before Chuck Lukanen came in to get the final two outs of the frame.

The Freedom got to Lukanen in the fifth inning as Curley doubled and with one down Jonathan Cisneros singled, putting runners at the corners. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases and with two away Juan Valdes singled home two runners to extend the lead to 9-4.

Jeremy Tietze took over for Lukanen in the sixth and gave up two more runs. RBI singles from Rundle and Arrojo gave the Freedom an 11-4 advantage.

Netzel got one back for the Slammers in the bottom half of the sixth with a RBI double to drive in Hewett, who had drawn his second walk of the game.

But the Freedom scored four more runs in the seventh when Rundle went deep again, this time for a grand slam.

Nick Ochoa hit his second homer in as many games in the eighth inning, but it was too little too late for the Slammers.

One bright spot on the afternoon was Brian Smith getting two hits and tossing a scoreless inning. It was Smith’s first outing of his professional career and he showed his versatility at the plate, in the field, and on the mound.

The Slammers look to salvage the finale of their three game series Thursday night against the Freedom. Jason Jarvis (1-1, 3.21 ERA) will be on the mound for Joliet. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CST and fans can enjoy $1.50 drafts as it’s Thirsty Thursday.