The Florence Freedom (5-5) saw their 2-0 lead evaporate quickly as the Gateway Grizzlies (3-8) scored nine runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good in a 12-4 defeat for the Freedom Tuesday night at GCS Ballpark.
Florence grabbed their 2-0 lead against Gateway starter JaVaun West (2-0) in the top of the fifth. Michael Pair doubled to start the frame. One out later, Daniel Fraga drew a walk. Austin Newell doubled home Pair and Jake Luce delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 in favor of the Freedom.
But the bottom of the fifth inning saw everything fall apart. Grant Buckner and Ben Waldrip started the inning with back-to-back singles off Casey Henn (1-2). Then Grant Nelson lay down a bunt; Henn slipped and fell coming off the mound when he tried to field the ball and everyone was safe on the error.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Henn struck out the next batter but then gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Madison Beaird and Shawn Payne. Then with two away and the game tied at two, Blake Brown delivered a two-RBI single to put the Grizzlies up 4-2.
But they weren’t done. Richard Seigel drew a walk to reload the bases. Then, Buckner hit a routine fly to left field. Cody Bishop lost the ball in the lights and the ball fell in for a three-RBI double and it was 7-2 in favor of the Grizzlies. Waldrip followed with an opposite field two-run home run to complete the scoring.
Of the nine runs Henn allowed in the fifth, only two were earned.
Gateway added three more runs in the sixth, all of them coming with two outs. Freedom relievers walked four batters in the inning and hit two more. No hits were recorded in the frame.
Down 12-2, Florence tallied two runs in the ninth as Newell doubled home Zack Burling and Luce singled home Newell.
The Freedom will try to bounce back Wednesday with Frontier League Pitcher of the Week Chuck Weaver (2-0, 1.98 ERA) on the hill. First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m.
Staff report/Photo by Toni Hanson
