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Freedom take Game 4 against Rascals to knot series, decisive FLCS Game 5 in Florence Monday


Connor Crane crushed a fifth inning solo-homer and the Florence Freedom, presented by Titan Mechanical Solutions, held on to win, 3-2, over the River City Rascals in Game 4 of the Frontier League Championship Series Saturday night at CarShield Field. 

With the win, the Freedom forced a winner-take-all Game 5 at UC Health Stadium in Florence Monday night.

River City started the scoring in the bottom of the second, touching Freedom left-hander, Mike Castellani for a run to take a, 1-0 edge into the third. 

Zach Lavy earned the RBI, dropping a single to center that plated Trevor Achenbach who reached via a walk to start the frame.

Florence stormed in front in the top of the fourth, coming up with three straight two-out singles off Brendan Feldmann  and the Freedom took a 2-1 advantage. 

Andre Mercuiro came up with the first, and scored on an ensuing single to left-center from Isaac Benard and when L.J. Kalwaia fumblied the ball in center Benard took second.

Trevor Craport laced a one-bagger to center field as Benard scored the go ahead run.

Trailing 2-1, in the home side of the fourth, Kalawaia made up for his miscue by launching a solo-homer to right-center to even the score again at two apiece.

Crane delivered a quick answer in the top of the fifth, unloading on his third homer of the postseason, and second in as many nights, left-center off Feldmann as Florence took a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish.

Feldmann stepped aside after six innings, allowing three runs, two earned on seven hits with one walk and 10 whiffs in defeat.

Castellani spanned seven two-run innings on three days rest, stepping up to deliver a quality-start with the Freedom season on the line.

The crafty lefty struck out two and walked one, scattering six hits and two runs over his seven frames on the way to victory.

Florence closer Karl Craigie earned the save, going the final two innings and tallying three strikeouts. The save is number four of the postseason for Craigie.

The Freedom win sets up a winner take-all Game 5 of the Frontier League Championship Series on Monday night at UC Health Stadium in Florence. The Freedom will trot-out left-hander, Scott Sebald (2-0, 1.39) opposite a TBD starter for the Rascals, with first pitch slated for 6:35 p.m. ET.

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.

Florence Freedom


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