Freedom score early, hang on for road win against Boomers Tuesday; move to 15 games over .500 – User-generated content (press release) (registration)

A four-run first-inning rally and a Jordan Brower home run in the early innings proved to be just enough for the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, in a 5-4 win over the Schaumburg Boomers Tuesday night at Boomers Stadium.

Jose Brizuela drew a two-out walk from Boomers (36-18) starter Kagen Hopkins (6-3) in the first inning, and Andre Mercurio followed by doubling just over the head of right fielder David Harris to score the games first run. Collins Cuthrell walked and then advanced to third as Jordan Brower doubled Mercurio home for a 2-0 Freedom (35-20) lead. Andrew Godbold capped the rally by lining a single to center, scoring both Cuthrell and Brower.

Schaumburg got two runs back against Jordan Kraus (8-3) in the bottom half, as Kyle Ruchim led off by reaching second base on a Taylor Oldham throwing error and later scoring from third on a wild pitch. Ryan OMalley later hit a RBI-single, diminishing Florences lead to two runs before Brower homered in the top of the third to re-extend the Freedom lead to three.

Jordan Kraus (8-3) labored with a high pitch count through six innings but allowed just two unearned runs, striking out five and walking two before Keivan Berges and newly-signed Jamal Wilson pitched perfect seventh and eighth innings, respectively.

With newcomer Pete Perez on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, however, Ruchim doubled to the warning track in left field with one out. After a strikeout, Zach Weigel delivered a RBI-single to score Ruchim, and after an infield single by Harris, Josh Gardiner lined a base hit to left field, scoring Weigel and putting the tying and winning runs on base. But Perez then got OMalley to ground out to shortstop, ending the game.

The two teams will play the middle game of the series Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. at Boomers Stadium.

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.

Florence Freedom

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Freedom score early, hang on for road win against Boomers Tuesday; move to 15 games over .500 - User-generated content (press release) (registration)