Florence’s record drops to .500 after their second straight loss to the visiting Gateway Grizzlies. Gateway scored five times in the top of the 6th inning on way to a one run victory.

For the second straight night, Gateway struck first in the top of the first inning. Charlie Lisk singled and scored a run on a Cambell single to right field. One run was all the Grizzlies would get in the top of the first, as Freedom second baseman Billy Mottram robbed Mike Breyman of a hit with a diving catch in the hole to end the inning.
Florence answered in the bottom of the first when Angel Molina grounded into a fielder’s choice which scored Florence lead-off hitter Tim Grogan.

The score remained tied until the bottom of the fourth inning. Tim Grogan drove in Billy Mottram to break the tie and give the Freedom a 2-1 lead. The Freedom would score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 4-1.

In the visiting half of the sixth inning the Gateway Grizzlies sent ten batters to the plate in a five run inning that would prove to be the difference in the ballgame. After two quick outs to start the inning Gateway third baseman Travis Fultz homered to right field. The next three Grizzly hitters all singled and starting pitcher Liam Shanahan (1-3) was lifted after going five and two thirds. A throwing error from John Welch extended the inning and allowed Ryne Malone to score the tying run. Reliever Everett Saul then balked in the go ahead run. After an RBI single from John Alonso the Freedom got out of the inning. The tenth batter of the inning, Mike Breyman, grounded out to second, but the damage was done. Gateway scored five runs on six hits, all with two outs.

Florence would get one of the runs back in the bottom of the 7th inning, on a RBI double from Angel Molina. It was Angel’s fourth run batted in of the night but it was the last run the Freedom would get as they fell to the visiting Grizzlies 6-5.