A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Wark hits pivotal grand slam, Freedom sweep doubleheader from Windy City on Wednesday


By David Kubota
NKyTribune reporter

Jacob Wark’s grand slam in the fifth inning lifted the Florence Freedom to a 7-5 victory over the Windy City Thunderbolts on Wednesday night in the first game of a doubleheader at UC health Stadium.

Windy City entered the fifth inning holding a 4-2 lead, but a run-scoring single by Florence’s Keivan Berges made it 4-3. Wark stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and launched his third home run of the season to give the Freedom a 7-4 advantage.

The Thunderbolts scored a run in the top of the sixth to cut the Florence lead to 7-5, but reliever Jake Haberer came out of the bullpen and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to notch the save. Jordan Kraus earned the win by pitching six innings, allowing five runs on five hits. He also struck out three batters.

Three solo home runs by Windy City’s Tyler Straub wasn’t enough to prevent his team from losing. Straub belted homers in the first, third and sixth innings, but his power display could not overcome Wark’s heroics.

Berges was 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Austin Wobrock was 2-for-3 and scored twice.

Florence completed the sweep with a 3-0 win in the nightcap. The two teams meet again Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

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.


Related Posts

Leave a Comment