By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter
Keivan Berges smashed a three-run homer to ignite the Florence Freedom’s 6-1 victory over the Schaumburg Bombers on Sunday night at UC Health Stadium.
The game was largely a pitching duel between the Freedom’s Steve Hagen and Schaumburg’s Joe Hauser. Hagen pitched 7 1/3 innings, struck out four and scattered six hits to pick up the win. Hauser went seven innings and allowed four runs, three of those off the bat of Berges in the sixth inning that snapped a 1-all tie.
Connor Crane provided insurance in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run single, extending the Freedom lead to 6-1. The win allowed Florence to take the weekend three-game series, 2-1.
On Saturday night, Schaumburg held off a ninth-inning Florence rally and posted a 10-8 win.
Defensive miscues were the story of the night for a Freedom team that fell behind early to Schaumburg. Florence committed four errors in the contest that led to four unearned runs being scored by the visitors.
Trailing 10-6 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Freedom loaded the bases with no outs. Berges made it a 10-7 game with a sacrifice fly to center. An ensuing Jacob Wark single to right field plated Xavier Turner to make it 10-8. Craig Lepre, however, lined into a game-ending double play at first base.
Florence will meet the Evansville Otters in a three-game series that begins Tuesday night at UC Health Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
David Kubota is a Scripps Howard Foundation intern at the NKyTribune this summer. He is a student at the University of Kentucky School of Journalism and Media.