GRIZZLIES SPUTTER OFFENSIVELY, FALL 3-1 TO FLORENCE

SAUGET, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies (0-2) couldn't find enough offense against starting pitcher Tony Vocca and the Florence Freedom (2-0) Saturday night at GCS Credit Union Ballpark in a 3-1 loss.

Florence scored first, striking in the top of the first inning for the second straight game. Back-to-back-to-back singles off Grizzlies starter Will Anderson brought in the opening tally.

Anderson threw 5 1/3 innings in his Frontier League debut, allowing three Freedom runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts and one walk. All but one of the 10 hits were singles, allowing Anderson to limit the resulting damage.

"I thought [Anderson] did a lot of things well," Grizzlies manager Phil Warren said. "Found the strikeout when he needed it, was able to but guys away…and controlled the running game."

His Gateway offense got a run back in the bottom of the third inning when Terry McClure scored on a Cody Livesay sacrifice fly.

But Florence added runs in the fifth and sixth innings, which proved to be enough for righthander Tony Vocca. He hurled six innings, giving up the lone Gateway run on two hits. He struck out six and walked two.

Logan Longwith and Matt Pebereyko combined to throw three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Freedom. Pebereyko got the save, striking out the side in order in the Grizzlies' ninth.

For Gateway, Ja'Vaun West, Kevin Jefferis, and Kaleb Earls threw a combined 3 2/3 shutout innings out of the 'pen with four strikeouts. 

McClure had the only two-hit night for the Grizzlies, picking up a double and a single.

The Grizzlies close out their season-opening homestand with the third of a three-game series against Florence. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m. and fans can hear the game on the Grizzlies Media Network.

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