Facing a series deficit, the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, bore down for a combined two-hit shutout of the River City Rascals in a 5-0 win on Thursday at CarShield Field that gave the Freedom a four-game series split.

Making a spot start, Sam Brunner walked five batters over two and two-thirds innings but held River City (38-33) baserunners in check by inducing weak contact and recording two strikeouts. Enrique Zamora (2-1) earned the win in relief, allowing only one hit over two and one-third innings. Mike Anthony turned in his longest outing of the season for the Freedom (44-26) by tossing scoreless sixth and seventh frames before giving way to Jamal Wilson and Pete Perez, who pitched one inning each.

The offense provided plenty of run support, beginning with a third-inning two-run homer by Jose Brizuela, his team-leading thirteenth of the season, to right field off Tim Koons (4-4) in the top of the third. Florence added two runs in the eighth when, after a Taylor Oldham single and a Brizuela ground-rule double, Andre Mercurio drove a double into the right-field corner for a 4-0 lead. Jordan Brower scored the final run in the ninth, leading off with a walk and eventually scoring on an Austin Wobrock groundout.

Koons lasted seven and two-thirds innings and struck out five, but was responsible for four of the five Florence runs.

The shutout was the second of the season by the Freedom, and the teams first since May 20 at Normal.

The Freedom will open a three-game series at home against the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium. Tony Vocca (6-4) will start for the Freedom against Chris Washington (1-3) for the Miners.

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.

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Freedom earn split with Rascals, return home for weekend series against Southern Illinois Miners - User-generated content (press release)...