NKyTribune staff
Skyler Ewing and Taylor Bryant both homered Thursday night as the Florence Freedom held off a late rally by the Normal CornBelters to pull out a 6-5 win at The Corn Crib.
Ricky Ramirez Jr. and Jordan Brower each scored a pair of runs as Florence took the rubber game of the midweek series and remained in contention for the postseason. Ewing’s homer was his 15th of the season.
Bryant’s three-run homer in the fifth inning gave Florence a 6-3 lead. The Freedom owned that advantage going into the bottom of the ninth, when the CornBelters scored twice to make it a 6-5 game.
Johnathon Tripp, who gave up a two-run homer to Derrick Loveless earlier in the ninth, then retired Andrew Godbold on a grounder to shortstop to end the game. Tripp earned the save, while starter Steve Hagen picked up the win by going six innings and allowing three runs.
Florence returns home Friday to play the Gateway Grizzlies at 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.