SANFORD, Fla. - Michael Bulmer threw seven strong innings on Wednesday afternoon as the Winter Park Freedom beat the Winter Springs Rats, 9-2, to advance to the Futures League Championship game.

Winter Springs jumped out to an early lead in the first but it mattered little as Bulmer kept the Rats relatively quiet the rest of the way, picking up the win.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, Winter Park scored in each of the next three innings to take a 7-1 lead. An RBI single by Dean Niarchos and a run scored on a fielder’s choice gave the Freedom a 2-1 lead in the second.

They added another run on a pass ball.

RBI doubles by Kyle Norman and James McGhee helped carry the Freedom as Winter Springs pitching had no answer for Winter Park’s bats.

The Rats added another run in the fifth but the Freedom smelled championship game as Luke Brown closed things out with two shutout innings in relief.

McGhee led the way for Winter Park, finishing 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI.