August 12, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Avon, OH-The Florence Freedom(42-36) got a terrific pitching performance from Andy Clark(1-0) on Sunday as they went on to shutout the Lake Erie Crushers(43-35) 1-0 at All Pro Freight Stadium. The Freedom took two out of three from the Crushers in a critical weekend series as both chase after a spot in the Frontier League's season ending playoffs.

It was an outstanding pitcher's duel between Florence's Clark and Lake Erie's Paul Fagan(7-6). Clark who pitched for the Freedom the previous three seasons was just singed prior to the start of Sunday's game. Clark took a perfect game into the 6th inning. With one out, he yielded his first hit of the day as Wally Correa doubled into left field. Clark still went 5.1 innings without allowing a hit as he finished the game with seven shutout innings while giving up two hits and striking out three. He didn't walk a batter. Fagan was equally as impressive however his lone mistake came in the 7th. Kyle Bluestein led off with a double. John Malloy then got down a sacrifice bunt getting Bluestein to third base. Pierre LePage then followed by hitting a ground ball to second baseman J.C. Figueroa which scored Bluestein for the games only run.

Jorge Marban entered the game following the masterpiece by Clark. In the 8th, with the tying runner standing at third base, Marban got Brian Erie to fly out to LePage as the second baseman made the catch down the right field line in foul territory to preserve the lead. Then in the 9th, with the tying runner at first base with two outs, Marban struck out Andrew Davis to close the game. Marban collected his 6th save of the season. The Freedom finished the year 7-5 against the Crushers.

The Freedom will have Monday off before resuming their six game road trip Tuesday night in Rockford, Illinois against the RiverHawks. RHP Alec Lewis(4-7, 4.74) will start for Florence while Rockford's starter is TBA. The game can be heard starting at 7:50 on Real Talk 1160 AM and realtalk1160.com.

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