The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, dropped a pair of one-run games to the Schaumburg Boomers by final scores of 3-2 and 4-3 in Wednesday night’s doubleheader at UC Health Stadium.
In the first game, Tony Vocca (3-2) and Gunnar Kines traded zeroes through the first three innings before the Freedom (16-7) broke through in the fourth. Collins Cuthrell hit a leadoff single, advanced to third on a base hit by Connor Teykl and scored on a fielder’ choice grounder by Garrett Vail.
But the lead disappeared promptly in the top of the fifth, as the Boomers (16-7) loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a throwing error. A sacrifice fly to center by Kyle Ruchim plated the tying run, and Zach Weigel followed with a go-ahead RBI-single before Daniel Fraga misplayed a groundball to second base, allowing a third run to score. Rob McDonnell (1-1) received the win in relief, taking over for Kines after 4.1 innings, after Kines gave up an additional run on a Fraga RBI-single in the fifth.
Florence had loaded the bases with one out in the second inning, but failed to capitalize.
In the second game, the Freedom rallied to a 2-0 first-inning lead. With a runner on first, three straight two-out singles by Cuthrell, Jordan Brower and Teykl put the home team on top. Starter Marty Anderson would hold Schaumburg scoreless through five innings of work.
But Josh Gardiner led off the sixth inning by homering off Evan Bickett, and Seth Spivey would later reach on another misplayed ground ball by Fraga. Spivey stole second base after Pete Levitt entered to pitch, and scored the tying run on a bloop single by Kenny Towns to right-center.
Kyle Doerr (0-1) entered for the top of the seventh inning and could not keep the score tied. After retiring the first two batters, the rookie right-hander surrendered a walk and a hit-by-pitch, and David Harris doubled to the left field wall to give the Boomers a 4-2 lead.
Jose Brizuela hit a solo home run to right field with one out in the bottom half against Schaumburg closer Jake
Joyce to cut the deficit to one run, and Cuthrell followed with a walk. But a fielder’s choice grounder and a strikeout left the tying run stranded, handing the Freedom a second straight loss. Austin Kerr (4-1) recorded the win after one scoreless inning in relief.
Florence left nine runners stranded in the nightcap, including three in the fourth inning.
The series concludes Thursday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Right-hander Cody Gray (4-0) will pitch against Schaumburg’s Kagen Hopkins (2-1).
The Florence Freedom are members of the independent Frontier League and play all home games at UC Health Stadium located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, KY. The Freedom can be found online at FlorenceFreedom.com, or by phone at 859-594-4487.