Freedom Fight Back But Fall Short against Boomers
Published on June 16, 2018 under Frontier League (FL)
Florence Y'alls News Release
FLORENCE, Ky -Trailing by four in the bottom of the ninth, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, plated a pair and had the winning run at first before coming up short, 10-8, to the Boomers on Saturday night at UC Health Stadium.
Defensive miscues were the story of the night for a Freedom (15-17) team that fell behind early to Schaumburg (16-15). In the top of the second, an error by Jimmy Heck at second base allowed the leadoff batter, Collin Ferguson, to reach. The Boomers then netted back-to-back singles to load the bases before Freedom starter Zach Kirby (0-3) issued a walk to Clint Hardy as Schaumburg moved in front, 1-0. One pitch later, Nick Oddo delivered a sacrifice fly to push the Boomers in front by a pair.
Florence would tie the game in their next at-bat when Boomers starter Steven Ridings (3-3) walked Jacob Wark and surrendered a single to Connor Crane to put runners on the corners ahead of a two-run single from Craig Lepre. The Freedom took their first lead of the night, 3-2, in the third. After Xavier Turner motored his way to first base on a dropped third strike, Jordan Brower pushed him to third with a single. With two outs, Wark chopped a grounder to second, but Jack Parenty threw low to first allowing Turner to cross home plate.
Schaumburg answered right back to re-claim the lead in the top of fourth, however. With two on and two outs, Oddo split the gap in left-center with a line-drive that rolled all the way to the wall, scoring both runs as Schaumburg jumped in front, 4-3.
Continuing the trend of scoring immediately after the Boomers, Florence knotted the score at four in the bottom half. With Heck at first base after a single, Ricky Ramirez Jr. executed a hit and run to perfection, slapping a ground-ball in to left center that allowed Heck to score from first on a close play at the plate.
The scoring continued in the fifth, with Schaumburg taking another two-run edge, this time, 6-4. With runners at second and third, Sean Godfrey grounded to short to score one, but a wild throw from shortstop Austin Wobrock attempting to gun the trailing runner at third base, ended up in the Boomers dugout, allowing both runs to cross the plate. Kirby exited after 4.1 innings, allowing six runs, three of which were earned on three hits with five walks and one strikeout.
Schaumburg extended their lead in the sixth, taking advantage of another Fredom error in the process. After Clint Hardy led off the frame by reaching on an Xavier Turner miscue at third base, Jack Parenty split the gap in right-center allowing Hardy to score as the ball rolled all the way to wall.
A two-run bottom of the sixth pulled the Freedom within one at, 7-6. Connor Crane started the inning with a single and stole second base ahead of another Lepre RBI-single. Lepre would reach third on an ensuing Heck single before Wobrock drove in the run with a fielder's choice.
Ridings night would end at the start of the sixth, tallying five frames and allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, to go with seven strikeouts and one walk.
Already in front by one, Schaumburg added three runs of insurance in the visitor's half of the eighth. With the bases loaded, Ty Moore delivered a three-run double to left-center as the Boomers took a, 10-6 edge.
The Freedom began to rally in the ninth against Schaumburg reliever, Jake Joyce, putting the first three men to the plate on base. Keivan Berges then made it a three-run game with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Ramirez Jr. who walked. An ensuing Jacob Wark single to right plated Turner and put the winning run on first for Florence. Boomers manager, Jamie Bennett would call on southpaw Darrell Thompson to face Lepre with one out and the bases loaded. Lepre promptly lined into a game ending double play at first base, as the Boomers emerged victorious, 10-8.
Florence will look to win the series on Sunday behind right-handed starting pitcher Steve Hagen. Schaumburg will counter with righty Joe Hauser with first pitch on Father's Day slated for 6:05 at UC Health Stadium.
The Florence Freedom are members of the Independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Wayin Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at florencefreedom.com, or by phone at (859) 594-4487.
Frontier League Stories from June 16, 2018
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