It took extra innings on a night that already featured an hour-plus rain delay, but the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, emerged victorious in eleven innings to claim the series over the Windy City ThunderBolts with a 6-5 win on Thursday at UC Health Stadium.
After reaching on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the eleventh, Collins Cuthrell took second base on a wild pitch from Brian Loconsole (1-1) and Andrew Godbold delivered a single to right field, giving Florence (40-23) the 6-5 victory over Windy City (34-28). Jamal Wilson (2-0) picked up the win after turning in a spotless top half of the eleventh.
Windy City had jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the third, as Freedom starter Cody Gray surrendered an RBI-single to Riley Krane before Larry Balkwill padded the lead with his second home run of the series, a three-run homer to center field.
However, as torrential rains fell on UC Health Stadium in the bottom of the fourth, ThunderBolts starter Clay Chapman issued five walks and a pair of hits including a two-run single by Garrett Vail that pushed Florence in front 5-4.
The Freedom’s lead would be short-lived, though, as Kyle Wood launched a sixth-inning solo homer off Gray to even the score at 5-5 before a rain delay put the bottom of the frame on hold.
Neither team would score again in regulation, as a combined eight pitchers on both sides took the mound over the next five innings.
Enrique Zamora, Jack Fowler, Keivan Berges, Pete Perez and Wilson all held Windy City bats scoreless in relief for Florence.
The Freedom will travel to Joliet, Illinois on Friday for the start of a three-game weekend set with the Joliet Slammers. First pitch at Slammers Stadium is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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.