The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, rebounded from a six-run deficit to defeat the Evansville Otters, 10-7, on Saturday night at UC Health Stadium.
Trailing 6-0 entering the bottom of the third inning, the Freedom (15-5) got a walk from Daniel Fraga and a single from Andrew Godbold. Jose Brizuela followed with a towering three-run homer to right field off Evansville (10-10) starter Hunter Ackerman, cutting the deficit in half. Andre Mercurio then singled, and doubles by Collins Cuthrell and Ryan Rinsky brought home one run each to make the score 6-5.
In the bottom of the fourth, with reliever Austin Sweet (2-1) on the mound, two Florence singles and a walk loaded the bases. Cuthrell then drew his league-leading 21st walk of the season, forcing home the tying run. The next batter, Jordan Brower, lined a single to left field to score the go-ahead run, and Ryan Rinsky next cleared the bases with a three-RBI double to left field.
Brower went 2-for-4 in the game to extend his hitting streak to nine games, matching the longest by a Freedom player this season.
The Otters threatened in the seventh inning with Matt Terrones pitching in relief, as the visiting club loaded the bases with three consecutive singles. But Pete Levitt entered and got Chris Sweeney to ground into a double play, scoring one run, before retiring the final batter to minimize the damage.
Patrick McGrath and Matt Pobereyko pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings, respectively, with the latter recording his sixth save.
Cody Gray (4-0) received the win, despite surrendering six Otters runs on eight hits. A three-run homer by Jeff Gardner gave Evansville a first-inning advantage, and Brandon Soat led off the second with a solo home run, while John Schultz and Dane Phillips delivered RBI-singles to put the Freedom in an early six-run hole.
The Freedom will play their first rubber game of the season on Sunday at UC Health Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Right-hander Jordan Kraus (3-1) will start for Florence, while Shane Weedman (1-1) is scheduled to pitch for Evansville.
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.
Florence Freedom