Florence, KY – The Washington Wild Things (18-15), presented by Washington Federal Savings Bank, could not overcome a big second inning from the Florence Freedom (14-20) and lost 11-4 Wednesday night at Champion Window Field, giving both games of the two-day series to the Freedom.

One inning was all the Freedom needed to seal the win Wednesday. Florence was able to get runners on base against Washington starter Kevin Foeman (0-1) and produce as they plated nine runs on six hits in the inning.

The Wild Things jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning when leftfielder Matt Sutton hit a solo home run (5), his fourth first-inning homer of the year.

The Freedom was able to get right back in the game in a big way in the second inning, however. The Freedom scored nine runs in the inning, with Tyler Evans hitting a bases-clearing triple and Beau Blacken capping off the frame with a grand slam (8), making it 9-1

Trying to stay in the contest, the Wild Things added one run in the top of the third when Kyle Werman trotted home on a groundout by Matt Sutton, but Washington continued to trail late in the ballgame.

Nathan Messner plated Sutton in the eighth with a double and Chris Sidick had an RBI single in the ninth, but it was too little, too late for the Wild Things as the Freedom won 11-4.

Washington’s bullpen did a good job of preventing further damage until the eighth inning as Justin Mattison and Ryan Davis kept Florence from putting more runs on the board in five-plus innings of relief.

The Wild Things continue on the road Thursday against another East Division foe in the Slippery Rock Sliders. Game time is set for 6:05 p.m. at Jack Critchfield Park as the teams will play a doubleheader to make up an earlier rainout. Washington will return home Friday to host the Sliders at 7:05 p.m. For tickets, call the Wild Things box office at 724-250-9555.

--Brian Dalek