FL Gateway Grizzlies

Grizzlies Pull off Comeback Win in Florence

August 13, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release


Florence, Ky. - The Gateway Grizzlies trailed by a large margin early on Saturday evening but roared back for a 10-8 win over the Florence Freedom at UC Health Stadium.

The Grizzlies trailed 8-3 after just two innings but would chip away to eventually tie the game and take the lead.

Gateway scored three times to open the game in the first inning. Ben Waldrip laced a run-scoring double while Josh Bunselmeyer rocketed a two-run double to make it 3-0.

The lead was short lived for the Grizzlies (39-37). LHP Jon Jones got touched up for five runs in the bottom half of the opening frame and then gave up a three-run shot to Austin Newell in the second. The Freedom (34-43) led 8-3 after just two innings.

In the third, Gateway began to hammer away at the deficit. Craig Massoni plated a run with a sac fly to make it 8-4. Ben Waldrip then hit a single to first base and an error by Freedom first baseman Jordan Brower allowed a run to score. Bunselmeyer then laced another RBI double to pull Gateway to within a pair of runs.

In the sixth, Logan Davis collected an RBI groundout to make it 8-7 against Florence lefty Zach Wendorf.

Wendorf (1-3) unraveled in the seventh. Brandon Thomas singled to begin the inning while Massoni followed it up with a single of his own. After Thomas stole third base, Waldrip then hit a line drive that nicked off Brower's glove at first base and rolled away. Thomas scampered home with the tying run to even the score at 8-8.

RHP Pete Levitt came on for Wendorf with two runners on and nobody out. After a sac bunt, Jason Scholl struck out swinging. Sam Fischer then walked to load the bases and Levitt walked Logan Davis to bring in the go-ahead run. A passed ball allowed Gateway to tack on another tally and lead 10-8.

In conjunction with the offensive comeback, Gateway's bullpen was outstanding as they were asked to throw 7.1 innings in relief. The group didn't allow a single run and only surrendered four hits.

LHP Chris Scarlett tossed 2.1 scoreless frames after Jones came out of the game. RHP Chris Rogers made his Grizzlies debut and threw two scoreless innings. RHP Ja'Vaun West continued his terrific work and hurled a pair of scoreless frames. RHP Will LaMarche came on in the ninth and recorded his fifth save of the season.

Thomas and Waldrip paced Gateway's offense with three hits each. Massoni also had two hits.

The Grizzlies and Freedom play the rubber game of their three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 p.m. The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Sunday online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio. Sam Levitt has the call.

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Frontier League Stories from August 13, 2016


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