The Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, defeated the Gateway Grizzlies in 11 innings, 3-2, on Sunday afternoon at UC Health Stadium to clinch the Frontier League West Division title.
With Taylor Oldham beginning the bottom of the eleventh inning on second base per the International Tiebreaker Rule, Collins Cuthrell drew a walk for the Freedom (57-34), and the next batter, Andre Mercurio, laid down a sacrifice bunt attempt. Grizzlies (29-61) reliever Tanner Cable (4-4) fielded the ball and threw to third in an attempt for the force out, but the ball glanced off the glove of third baseman Joel McKeithan, allowing Oldham to score the game’s winning run.
The win gave the Freedom the three-game series victory, and tied the franchise record for most wins in a season.
Florence starting pitcher Cody Gray and Gateway starter Ja’Vaun West dueled on the mound, allowing just one run each over six and seven innings, respectively. Gray finished with seven strikeouts, while West recorded eight, and both pitchers left the game with the score tied at 1-1.
Brent Gillespie opened the scoring with a solo home run to right field in the top of the fourth inning, and Cuthrell tied the score with his tenth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth, a line-drive over the left field wall.
Sam Brunner provided two innings of scoreless relief for the Freedom, who took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Garrett Vail led off with a single against Michael Elwood, and pinch runner Ozzy Braff stole second before taking third on a single by Daniel Fraga. With none out, Oldham grounded into a double play, allowing Braff to score the go-ahead run.
But with closer Pete Perez on the mound in the top of the ninth inning, Blake Brown tied the score again with a solo homer to left field. Perez would go on to pitch a scoreless tenth, and after the Freedom did not manage a baserunner in the bottom half, Enrique Zamora entered the game to pitch the top of the eleventh.
With tiebreaker runner Evan Rogers beginning the inning on second base, Zamora made a sliding catch on a popped-up bunt by Gillespie and struck out Brian Lees. Florence elected to intentionally walk Brown to place runners at first and second, and Zamora walked Kyle Richards on five pitches. McKeithan next flew out to right field, however, stranding three runners.
Gateway left a total of 14 runners stranded, including leaving the bases loaded in the second inning.
On Tuesday, the Freedom will travel to O’Fallon, Missouri for a two-game series against the River City Rascals. Tony Vocca (9-5) will start for Florence against a yet-to-be-determined River City starter. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Central Time at CarShield Field.
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