By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter
The Florence Freedom could not overcome an 18-hit attack by the Evansville Otters during an 8-5 loss on Wednesday at UC Health Stadium.
Evansville wasted no time getting the scoring started as the Otters utilized singles from three of their first four hitters to plate the game’s first run. Freedom starter Chuck Weaver was able to limit the damage, stranding a pair of runners with the Freedom trailing 1-0.
The Freedom tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the first on the strength of a leadoff homer by Ricky Ramirez, his first round-tripper of the season.
The Otters regained the lead on a David Cronin sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the top of the second, and added to their lead in the third.
Evansville tallied four hits in the third frame, getting a run-scoring single from Travis Harrison as the Otters moved in front 3-1.
Jacob Wark brought the Freedom within one in the bottom of the inning, driving in Jordan Brower from third on a fielder’s choice to make the score 3-2.
Evansville expanded its lead in the fourth, scoring three runs with two outs. With Ryan Long on first, Toby Thomas singled to left and took second when the ball bounced over the head of Keivan Berges at the wall, scoring Long in the process. Jeff Gardner followed a long homer to deep right-center field, a two-run shot and his fourth long ball on the season, to extend the Evansville lead to 6-2.
Weaver was pulled after seven innings, having allowed six runs on 13 hits with one walk and three punch-outs.
Leading 6-3, the Otters added more insurance in the top of the eighth. With Cronin standing at third, Thomas laced a liner into left that turned into a sacrifice fly as the Evansville lead increased to 7-3.
The Freedom would not go away and rallied in the bottom of the inning. Austin Wobrock smacked a clutch two-run double off Tyler Beardsley to make it a 7-5 score.
Evansville responded by tacking on another run in the visitor’s half of the ninth, thanks to an RBI single off the bat of Joe Deluca. Evansville closer Mitchell Aker entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and slammed the door on any Freedom comeback hopes by pitching a scoreless frame.
Florence — which has split the first two contests with Evansville — will attempt to win its third series in a row on Thursday night in the finale of this three-game series at 6:35 p.m. in 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.
