SAUGET, Ill. – Gateway dropped its first matchup of the weekend on Friday, falling 6-4 against the Y’alls at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.
Gateway broke ground in the bottom of the second inning, when Ty Moore drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 1-0. However, Florence had a quick reply. Former Grizzlie Axel Johnson clobbered a two-run homer and Trevor Craport added a solo blast shortly after to seize a 3-1 Y’alls advantage.
The teams then exchanged runs every half-inning through the fourth. Andres Regnault volleyed with his own solo blast in the bottom of the third to cut the Grizzlies deficit to 3-2. Then, Jordan Brower went long for the Y’alls to double the edge back to 4-2.
Gateway managed to tie the game at four in the bottom of the fourth. Dustin Woodcock roped an RBI double to center with one out. The next batter, Moore, hit a deep sacrifice fly that was caught at the wall by a sliding and crashing Rodney Tennie. With Tennie down at the wall, Woodcock had enough time to score all the way from second base.
Later, in the top of the seventh, Axel Johnson continued his revenge tour with his second long ball of the night, this one a solo shot to get Florence ahead 5-4. The Y’alls tallied one more run on a Jordan Brower fielder’s choice to make it 6-4 in the ninth.
Grizzlies RHP Carter Hayes (2-1) surrendered the decisive home run to Axel Johnson and took his first professional loss. Y’alls reliever Sean Hughes (3-0) got credit for the win.
Gateway and Florence play game two of the weekend on Saturday. GCS Credit Union Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:45 p.m and you can listen live on YO Radio or watch on Frontier League TV. Coverage begins with the Budweiser Pregame Show at 6:30 p.m.
