NKyTribune staff
Jacob Bissell hit a pair of home runs Thursday night to lead the Normal CornBelters to a 4-3 win over the Florence Freedom at UC Health Stadium.
Bissell’s second homer, a two-run blast in the top of the seventh, snapped a 2-all tie and gave the CornBelters a 4-2 lead. Florence scored a run in the bottom of the eighth on Xavier Turner’s sacrifice fly to cut the Normal advantage to 4-3, but reliever Jonathan De Marte pitched 1 2/3 innings of one-hit baseball to preserve the win.
De Marte also worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, only allowing Turner’s sacrifice fly. Starting pitcher Steve Hagen worked seven innings for Florence and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits.
The CornBelters won twice during the three-game series against Florence, including a 7-3 triumph on Wednesday night. Normal pounded out 15 hits in that win and built a 7-1 lead after eight innings. Florence scored twice in the bottom of the ninth, but the Freedom were unable to overcome the six-run deficit.
Turner finished with three RBI in that game to lead Florence, while teammate Jordan Brower went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Florence hits the road to meet the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday night. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. at Rent One Park.