By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter
Andre Mercurio’s run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth inning snapped a 4-all tie and gave the Florence Freedom a 5-4 victory over the Schaumburg Boomers on Friday night.
Xavier Turner began the ninth-inning rally with a one-out single. He advanced to third base on Austin Wobrock’s single, and Schaumburg then intentionally walked Ricky Ramirez to load the bases.
Mercurio stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter, and he delivered the winning single to lift Florence to its fourth consecutive triumph.
Jordan Brower paced the Florence offense with a homer and two RBI. Johnathon Tripp pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to collect the win.
Florence and Schaumburg play at 6:05 p.m. Saturday in the second of the three-game series at UC Health Stadium.
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.