(AVON, OH) - The Lake Erie Crushers split a doubleheader with the Florence Freedom Monday evening at All Pro Freight Stadium.  The Crushers came back in game one to win 8-6 thanks to a five run sixth inning, while the Freedom completely dominated game two to come out on top by a final count of 9-2. 

The Crushers (12-17) found themselves down early in game one as the Freedom (16-13) took a two nothing advantage in the second thanks to a homerun by Peter Fatse (3) and an RBI triple by Ryan Skellie. 

Then in the third, the Freedom would add one more run thanks to an RBI groundout by Fatse that scored Cole Miles who led off the frame with a single. 

The Crushers would then tie the ballgame in the third after J.C. Figueroa tripled, to be eventually brought in by a Brian Erie RBI single.  Then with two outs, Robby Kuzdale connected on his second homerun of the season to tie the game up at three apiece. 

Florence would come right back to take the lead by adding two runs in the fifth, and one in the sixth inning.  Fatse drove in two more runs in the fifth as Junior Arrojo and Chris Curley scored on his RBI double, and then Jim Jacquot scored on an RBI double by Eddie Rodriguez in the sixth. 

The bottom of the sixth however belonged to the Lake Erie Crushers as the resilient Crushers were able to post five runs in the frame.  Adrian Ortiz started off the inning with a double as Kuzdale followed up Ortiz's double with a walk.  Andrew Davis then struck a single to drive in Ortiz, and then Russ Moldenhauer slammed an RBI double that scored Kuzdale.  Kyle Weldon then grounded out to bring in Andrew Davis, which was followed up by Wally Correa's groundout that brought in Moldenhauer until the final run of the inning was scored courtesy of J.C. Figueroa's single to bring in Kellen Kulbacki. 

Up 8-6, The Crushers brought on closer Jonathan Kountis to shut the door as he struck out the side in the top of the seventh to pick up his fifth save of the season while securing the Crushers game one victory. 

Travis Risser (1-1) received the victory after coming on in relief of starter Paul Fagan in the sixth inning. 

Maxx Catapano (2-1) took the loss for the Freedom after throwing five innings where he allowed seven earned runs off six hits. 

In game two it was all Florence as Peter Fatse continued his dominant performance at the plate after connecting on his second homerun of the day in the third inning that put the Freedom up 5-1.  Fatse finished the day with three hits (two homeruns), and six RBIs. 

The Crushers would come back in the third to narrow the gap to only three after Jason Taylor connected on an RBI double that scored Russ Moldenhauer, who led off the frame with a double. 

Eddie Rodriguez would go on to homer for the Freedom in the fourth inning to give the Freedom a 6-2 advantage, as Florence would go on to add one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to eventually give them a 9-2 advantage, and the win.

Trevor Longfellow (2-1) took the loss after a rough start where he only went 3.1 innings, allowing five earned runs off six hits. 

Florence's Brennan Flick (2-0) received the victory for the Freedom.  Flick finished with 2.1 innings pitched where he allowed zero earned runs off two hits in relief. 

The Crushers will finish their three game series against the Florence Freedom at All Pro Freight Stadium on Tuesday night.  Right hander Eric Gonzalez-Diaz (1-3, 4.41) will start for the Crushers, and the Freedom will counter with right hander Sean Gregory (2-2, 3.13). The first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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POSTED 06/19/2012  03:33