GRIZZLIES LOSE LEAD, SERIES OPENER

SAUGET, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies scored five runs in the first two innings Friday night, but the Florence Freedom answered with eight unanswered en route to an 8-5 Gateway loss at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

After a Matt Gonzalez RBI groundout scored Artemis Kadkhodaian in the first, the Grizzlies (11-14) opened the second inning with four straight hits, incuding a two-run home run from Justin Ellison in his first at-bat in Sauget. Joel McKeithan and Kevin Martier scored during the rally, and Gonzalez added a second RBI.

After that, though, it was all Florence (10-14). The Freedom scored four in the fifth and four more in the eighth for a comeback win.

Dalton Shalberg allowed four runs (all earned) in five innings with eight strikeouts. He did not factor in the decision. Ryan McSweeney (1-1) took the loss in relief.

Gateway and Florence will tangle again Saturday night in game two of a four-game series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

ABOUT THE GATEWAY GRIZZLIES: The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 100-yards from I-255 (10 minutes from downtown St. Louis). The Grizzlies offer baseball fans entertainment, the likes of which are difficult to find - affordable, family, fun in the comfortable GCS Credit Union Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. For tickets or general information please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call 618.337.3000. 

ABOUT THE FRONTIER LEAGUE: The Frontier League is a professional, independent baseball organization. Since its inception, the Frontier League has provided millions of fans to a fun and exciting baseball experience within the American Midwest. Consisting of 12 teams in two divisions and 96 game schedules, the league is recognized for the amount of talented athletes that are picked up by various MLB teams every year.