GRIZZLIES LAUNCH FIVE HOMERS TO BEAT FLORENCE

Sauget, Ill. - The Gateway Grizzlies carried their momentum back to GCS Ballpark on Friday night, as they slugged five homers to beat the Florence Freedom, 6-2. 

Five different players hit home runs for the Grizzlies (14-18), powering the squad to a fourth consecutive win.  

Freedom starter Jeremy Gooding (2-4) held the Grizzlies off the scoreboard for three innings until the long ball parade started in the fourth with Gateway trailing 1-0. Tyler Tewell tied the game with a solo shot over the right field wall.

After the Freedom (7-23) scored a run in the top half of the fifth, the Grizzlies responded with back-to-back solo shots from Sam Fischer and Logan Davis. 

In the sixth, Brandon Thomas contributed with a solo homer of his own. Moments later, Ben Waldrip capped off the evening by launching a two-run blast to right field, making it 6-2. 

On the mound, Gateway received a tremendous performance from RHP Dakota Smith (1-1) in relief. After replacing RHP Adam Eggnatz in the fifth, Smith proceeded to retire 13 batters in a row to end the game. He did not allow a single baserunner through the final 4.1 innings. 

The Grizzlies and Freedom continue their series on Saturday night with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. RHP Will Landsheft (1-3, 4.37 ERA) takes the hill for Gateway as Florence counters with RHP Cody Gray (0-0, 0.00 ERA). 

The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Saturday on 1400 AM KJFF, 1570 AM/94.3 FM WBGZ, and online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio. Sam Levitt and Matt Sabados have the play-by-play call.