Connor Crane cleared the bases with a two-run triple in the top of the eleventh and the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, held serve in the bottom on the way to snapping a five-game winning-streak for the Evansville Otters with a, 6-3, win on Friday night at Bosse Field.
With southpaw, Cam Opp (4-2) on the hill for Evansville (52-36) in the Freedom (52-37) side of the eleventh, Brandon Pugh stood at second representing the International Tie-Breaker runner as Austin Wobrock came to the plate.
Wobrock laid down a sacrifice-bunt, but reached first safely following a throwing error from Opp. One batter later, Connor Crane drove a line-drive triple to the gap in right-center, scoring both runners as Florence broke a 3-3 tie to take a two-run, 5-3, lead. Luis Pintor plated Crane, scorching a double to center as the Freedom advantage swelled to three.
Jared Cheek (1-1) earned the win on the bump, retiring the side in order in the bottom of the frame to punctuate a tremendous 3.1 shut-out innings of relief that included four strikeouts in the, 6-3, victory.
For the second time in as many games, the Freedom took the first lead of the night. Ryan Rinsky executed a safety squeeze to score Isaac Benard en route to an early 1-0 edge.
The Otters evened the score at 1 facing lefty, Scott Sebald in the bottom of the sixth.
Rob Calabrese lifted a double to the gap, and scored on a throwing error behind the plate by Rinsky later in the frame.
Sebald was outstanding on the mound for the visitors, ultimately landing a no-decision despite spanning six strong innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with one walk and five whiffs.
Evansville took its first lead in the seventh, plating one more when Keith Grieshaber was a hit by a pitch from right-hander, Sean Hughes with the bases loaded.
Righty, Matt Quintana started for the Otters, and following seven one-run innings, saw his line get skewed in the eighth.
With two outs and runners at first and second, Benard shot a two-run double to left-center off Abraham Almonte, both runs were charged to Quintana as the Freedom reclaimed a, 3-2, lead.
Quintana turned in a final line of 7.1 innings, three runs, all earned, on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in the no-decision.
Evansville would stalemate the affair again in their side of the eighth, Elijah McNamee touching home after an infield single by pinch-hitter Dakota Phillips.
With the win, Florence now shares second-place in the West Division with the River City Rascals, and enter game two with Evansville on Saturday a half-game out of first, currently occupied by the Otters.
First pitch on Saturday is slated for 6:35 p.m. and will pit a pair of left-handers against each-other. George Faue, (2-3, 4.63) will get the ball for the Freedom, opposite, Austin Nicely of the Otters (5-7, 4.67).
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.
