Grizzlies Swept in Doubleheader, Series by Florence
FL Gateway Grizzlies

Grizzlies Swept in Doubleheader, Series by Florence

Published on August 2, 2026 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release


FLORENCE, KY. - The Gateway Grizzlies could not pull out a win either of their two games against the Florence Y'alls on Sunday afternoon, losing 7-4 in a rain-interrupted game one before falling 3-1 in game two at Thomas More Stadium, both in seven innings.

After a thirty-minute rain delay pushed back the start of game one, Darryl Lee continued to mash atop the order, drilling a leadoff double off the right field wall. After two quick outs, Bryson Horne paid it off with a double of his own, giving the Grizzlies a 1-0 first inning lead against Florence starter John Girard (2-1).

Jake Burcham started the first game for Gateway and struggled to find the zone in his first inning of work. Burcham issued three free passes, including a bases loaded walk that tied the game at 1-1. Florence then took the lead in the bottom of the second when Tyler Shaneyfelt singled, stole second, and scored on an RBI single by Brett Blomquist, all with two outs, for a 2-1 advantage.

The back-and-forth affair continued in the third inning when Dale Thomas had the green light on a 3-0 count and a runner on in front of him, sending a fastball over the left field wall to jump back in front at 3-2. Zade Richardson was leading off for Florence in the bottom half of the third, however, and wasted no time homering off reliever Claudio Galva (5-3) to tie the game at 3-3.

After the Y'alls scored a run each in their first three innings, they got a crooked number in the bottom of the fourth. Blomquist collected another RBI hit before Hank Zeisler hit a two-run opposite field home run to make it 6-3.

A comeback bid sputtered out for Gateway in the sixth inning. Thomas led off the inning with another home run off Girard, chasing him from the 6-4 game. The Grizzlies then loaded the bases with nobody out against Florence reliever Logan Jones but could not get another run home after a flyout turned into a double play when Horne tried to tag up from third base and score. The Y'alls then took the opportunity to plate another run in the bottom of the sixth, extending their lead back to three with a yet another homer by Zeisler, his fourth long ball of the weekend, accounting for the final 7-4 margin.

Josh Dima (0-2) started game two for the Grizzlies and dealt with control issues in his first inning as well. Three walks and a hit by pitch contributed to two runs scoring on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly for an early 2-0 Florence lead. Gateway was held scoreless by Y'alls starter Jett Lodes and C.J. Blowers (3-1) until the fifth inning when Horne smoked a double off the right field wall with the bases loaded, making the score 2-1.

After intentionally walking Zeisler in his first two plate appearances of the game, however, Gateway pitched to Zeisler to lead off the bottom of the sixth and he proceeded to homer on the first pitch he saw, his fifth of the series to bring the lead to 3-1. It was the only hit of game two for Florence, but they were still able to complete the doubleheader sweep.

The Grizzlies return home on Tuesday, August 4, in need of a bounce-back, as they host the West Division-leading Schaumburg Boomers to open a six-game home stand. First pitch at Arsenal BG Ballpark is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT.

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Frontier League Stories from August 2, 2026


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