May 16, 2014 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom (Florence, KY) - The Florence Freedom (2-0) pounded out 13 hits but it was the pitching of Dave Middendorf (1-0) that paced them to a 6-2 victory Friday night over the Washington Wild Things (0-2).

Middendorf went seven innings, scattering four hits and giving up only two runs. He was a strike throwing machine, walking only one and striking out three. The lefty threw 93 pitches, 58 of them for strikes to pick up the victory.

Offensively, once again the Freedom jumped out to the early lead. They jumped on Washington starter Chris Phelan (0-1) for three runs in the first and two more in the second.

With one away in the first, Buddy Sosnoskie, making his Freedom debut, singled. Jacob Tanis drew a walk and with two away, and with two strikes on him, Sam Eberle launched a three-run home run the opposite way to right field. It was the Freedom's fourth homer of the young 2014 campaign.

In the second inning, it was Niko Gallego getting the offense started with a single to left. Cole Miles doubled down the right field line and an errant throw from right fielder Stewart Ijames to second base allowed Gallego to score and Miles to advance to third. Sosnoskie smoked a single to score Miles and all of a sudden it was 5-0 Freedom.

Washington attempted a comeback in the fourth, tallying two runs with two outs on a double by Ijames and a Carter Bell single.

But that would be it for their offense as Middendorf regained control to notch the quality start and the win. An Eberle RBI single provided an insurance run in the fourth but it wasn't needed as Florence's pitching was too much.

Ed Kohout and Edgar Valle, a pair of rookies, finished off the game with a scoreless inning apiece. The Freedom bullpen has not allowed a hit through six innings of work this season.

Florence will go for the sweep Saturday night as Casey Henn (5-0, 3.67 ERA in 2013) takes the hill for the Freedom against Washington's Tim Flight (2-2, 3.22 ERA in 2013). First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. Eastern Time. It's a Rockin' Saturday presented by Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy, with a post-game concert from DV8. Also, arrive early for a bicycle helmet giveaway courtesy of Braden & Associates Law Firm. It's Sports Trivia night as well.

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Middendorf Leads Freedom to Another Victory