NKyTribune staff
The Florence Freedom began a three-game road series against the Joliet Slammers with a 4-1 win Friday night at Joliet Route 66 Stadium.
Caleb Lopes and Jacob Wark each collected run-scoring singles to spark the Freedom offense. Wark, who is batting .291 this season, went 2-for-3 on Friday night. He also scored a run as the Freedom built a 4-0 lead and coasted to the win.
Florence starting pitcher Tyler Gibson went five scoreless innings and scattered three hits. The Freedom bullpen took over and allowed just one run during the final four innings.
Johnathon Tripp pitched the ninth and notched the save for the Freedom. Joliet finished with an 8-5 advantage in hits, but the Slammers stranded seven base runners and committed two errors that led to a pair of unearned runs.
The teams resume the series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
