The Gateway Grizzlies took a 3-0 lead in the second inning Saturday night, but they allowed seven unanswered Florence Freedom runs en route to an 8-5 loss at UC Health Stadium.
Gateway (15-22) has lost back-to-back games and seven of its last eight.
Christian Funk had a second-inning RBI single in his first professional at-bat and Tyler Plantier, in his second professional game, followed with a two-run single to give the Grizzlies their 3-0 lead.
Dustin Woodcock, a Belleville native and former SIUE Cougar, added his first professional hit in the fifth inning.
Gateway has signed four players — Funk, Plantier, Woodcock, and Zak Taylor — this week and all four have singled in their debuts. Woodcock needed two at-bats; the other three needed just one apiece.
Taylor has hit in his first four professional games. Plantier has hit in his first two and started his pro career 5-for-8 with a run and two RBIs.
Connor Owings added a 2-for-4 night with an RBI and a run scored.
Jordan Barrett (1-4) allowed seven runs over three innings and took the loss. After the Grizzlies took their 3-0 lead in the top of the second, the Freedom (24-12) responded with one in the bottom of the second and six in the third. They did not trail again en route to a fourth straight win to keep themselves atop the West Division.
Florence scored eight runs on only seven hits Saturday for a total of 13 runs on only 12 hits over the first two games of the series combined.
Thomas Nicoll conceded only one run over 3 2/3 valuable innings of relief and struck out three without a walk.
Gateway and Florence will return to action at 4:35 p.m. CDT Sunday for the third of a four-game series. The finale is scheduled for Monday morning.
