The Gateway Grizzlies (11-12) scored six runs in the first inning Saturday night and coasted to a 13-5 Frontier League win over the visiting Florence Freedom (11-12) at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill.

Back-to-back first inning home runs by first baseman Angel Molina, his sixth, and designated hitter Kelly Hunt, his first, actually propelled the Freedom to an early 2-0 lead. The lead didn’t last long, though, as the Grizzlies got to left-hander Josh Bruns (3-1) for six straight hits and sent 11 batters to the plate during a six-run bottom of the first.

Bruns gave up seven runs in only 1 2/3 innings before being lifted in favor of fellow left-hander Stephen Shao. The rookie from Hermitage, Tenn., worked the next 5 1/3 innings, and was charged with six runs (four earned) on eight hits with a walk and three strikeouts.

The Freedom struggled for the second straight night to produce timely hits with men on base. A total of ten runners were left on base by Florence, including leaving the bases loaded twice without scoring a run. Right fielder John Welch drove in a run with his seventh double of the season, scoring Billy Mottram from second in the fifth inning. That proved to be the final run the Freedom would score in the ballgame, as they were limited to only three hits after the second inning by Grizzlies pitching.

Rookie reliever Justin Lilly (1-0) earned the win with one inning of relief. The right-hander made his professional debut in the fifth inning, allowing one run.

Florence third baseman Tim Grogan singled in the ninth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games. Grogan was back in the lineup after missing Friday’s game due to a sore hamstring.

The two teams wrap up their three-game series at 7:05 p.m. EDT Sunday at GCS Ballpark. The Grizzlies will be looking for a season sweep of the Freedom after winning the first five meetings. Florence will send rookie right-hander Everett Saul (2-0) to the mound, while Gateway will counter with right-hander Derek Blacksher (2-2).