The Florence Freedom dropped a close decision to the Schaumburg Boomers 9-7 at UC Health Stadium in 12 innings on Sunday.
After Florence pushed across three runs to tie the game in the bottom half of the 11th, the Boomers scored two runs in the top half of the 12th to down the Freedom.
Trailing 1-0 heading to the bottom half of the third inning, Florence took the lead. Daniel Fraga hit a double down the left field line. Austin Newell singled Fraga home for his 17th RBI of the season. Newell stole second and moved to third on a Collins Cuthrell infield single. Newell moved the final 90 feet home on a wild pitch. Florence led 2-1 after 3.
After the Boomers tied the game in the fourth inning, Florence regained the lead in the fifth. Fraga laced one over the right field fence for his first professional home run. The former UNC-Pembroke Brave gave Florence a 3-2 lead after five frames.
Freedom starter Chuck Weaver went six and two thirds innings allowing four runs while fanning five. Weaver recorded two outs in the seventh inning but was charged with both runs that crossed the plate and gave Schaumburg a 4-3 lead after seven innings.
The Freedom scraped across the tying run in the eighth inning. Newell doubled to start the rally. After consecutive outs, Cody Bishop dunked a double in front of the Boomer left fielder Justin Vasquez that plated Newell and tied the ball game at four after eight innings.
Tony Vocca was effective out of the pen for Florence. Vocca tossed two and a third scoreless innings while striking out three. Ed Kohout (1-1) struck out two in his scoreless 11th inning but allowed two runners to cross the plate in the twelfth to pick up the lost. Ethan Gibbons gave up three runs in his inning plus on the bump.
After the Boomers tagged three runs on Gibbons in the top half of the 11th, Florence got all three runs back in the bottom half of the frame. The international tie breaker rule placed Ozzy Gonzalez at second. Bishop singled to move him to third and put runners on the corners. Gonzalez came in to score on a Steve Carrillo fielder’s choice to put the Freedom down by two runs. Carrillo moved to second on a Sean Mahley single to put runners on first and second with the Freedom trailing by two and one out. After Travis Weaver struck out, Daniel Fraga was down to his last strike when he slapped a double the opposite way that scored Carrillo and Mahley to tie the game. Fraga was gunned down trying to reach third and Florence was held scoreless in the 12th after the Boomers scored two in the top half of the 12th.
The Freedom have an off day on Monday before heading to Avon, Ohio for a three-game series with the Crushers starting on Tuesday. First pitch for all three games is set for 7:05 p.m. eastern time.
Photo via Florence Freedom
