NKyTribune staff
Ricky Ramirez, Skyler Ewing and Graylin Derke all hit home runs Friday night as the Florence Freedom coasted to an 11-7 victory over the Southern Illinois Miners at UC Health Stadium.
Ewing went 2-for-4 and drove in four runs, while teammate Jordan Brower was 3-for-5 and scored twice. Ramirez finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, and Caleb Lopes was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored. The Freedom collected 15 hits and used a five-run seventh inning to build an 11-2 advantage.
Florence starter Cody Gray went seven innings and allowed just three hits and two runs. He also finished with seven strikeouts.
Trailing 11-3, Southern Illinois rallied for four runs in the ninth inning. But the Miners were unable to mount enough offense in their final at-bat to overcome the large deficit.
The two teams meet again Saturday in the second of a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.
