Game Recap

Y’alls’ Late Comeback Falls Short in Thriller

OTTAWA, ON – The Florence Y’alls (25-34), presented by Towne Properties, battled to the end in a close 6-5 defeat to the Ottawa Titans (30-29), but could not complete a ninth-inning rally.

Florence scored first in a back-and-forth contest. In the first inning, second baseman Tristin Garcia singled to lead off. Two batters later, designated hitter Craig Massey’s fielder’s choice brought Garcia home from third base and gave Florence an early 1-0 lead. Ottawa answered in the third with a two-run rally. Against Y’alls rookie righthander Carter Spivey (4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K), the Titans began the inning with three straight singles. First baseman Jamey Smart hit the third among them and drove in a run to tie the game. Two batters later, right fielder Taylor Wright drove home second baseman Jackie Urbaez from third base and gave Ottawa a 2-1 lead. The Titans tacked on another in the fourth when center fielder Austin Davis walked, stole both second and third, then came home to score on an RBI double from third baseman A.J. Wright.

The Y’alls tied the game in the fifth versus lefthander Grant Larson (5.1 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K), who entered the inning having retired 12 straight hitters. Back-to-back walks to left fielder Ray Zuberer and third baseman Jeremiah Burks began the inning. Catcher Cooper Edwards laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners ahead of center fielder Lane Hoover, who drove in Zuberer with a ground ball out. With two outs, Tristin Garcia came to the plate and doubled to right-center to score Burks from third and tie the game 3-3. In the sixth, the Y’alls retook the lead after a Craig Massey leadoff double and an RBI single from right fielder Harrison DiNicola.

Trailing 4-3, Ottawa scored a pair in the sixth. Catcher David Mendham led off the inning with a solo home run ahead of Austin Davis, who singled and later scored when Jamey Smart singled off of Y’alls lefthander Michael Kirian. After six, Ottawa led 5-4. In the eighth inning, the Y’alls tied the game. A Ray Zuberer double and a walk to Jeremiah Burks set up center fielder Lane Hoover with one out. Hoover’s fly ball to left was dropped by Titans outfielder Broc Mortensen, allowing the tying run to score from third base. In the bottom of the inning, the Titans pulled ahead for good when A.J. Wright – who finished 4-for-5 on the day – smacked a solo home run to lead off the inning against Y’alls righthander Ben Terwilliger.

A pair of two-out walks in the ninth gave the Y’alls a chance with two in scoring position, but catcher Zade Richardson lined out to Ottawa shortstop Jason DiCochea to end the game. The loss clinches a series defeat for the Y’alls, who return to Ottawa Stadium on Sunday, July 23rd for the series finale. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.

The Florence Y’alls are Northern Kentucky’s professional baseball team, and are proud members of the independent Frontier League, an MLB Partner League. With a purposeful focus on entertaining our fans, the Y’alls provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment. Y’alls home games are played at Thomas More Stadium, located at 7950 Freedom Way in Florence, Kentucky. More details can be found online at florenceyalls.com (http://florenceyalls.com/) or by phone at (859) 594-4487.