Posted: Jun 27, 2017

GRIZZLIES’ COMEBACK ATTEMPT COMES UP SHORT

SAUGET, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies gave up two home runs and committed two costly errors on Tuesday night. Southern Illinois took advantage and came away with a 5-4 victory in game one of the series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Southern Illinois started the scoring in the top of the first inning. Ryan Lashley hit a two-run home run over the right field wall to give the Miners an early 2-0 lead.

After going scoreless in the home half of the first, Gateway committed two fielding errors in the top of the second inning. One run scored for the Miners, stretching their lead to three.

Gateway answered in the bottom of the second inning. A two-out single by Matt Hearn brought in Hranec and Holst to cut the lead to one.

Southern Illinois scored one run in each of the third and the fourth innings to stretch the lead out to three once again.

Gateway did not go away quietly. One run came around to score in the bottom of the fifth on a one-out single by Brent Sakurai. Jack Hranec helped out the cause with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, trimming the deficit to just one.

The Grizzlies' bullpen shut down Southern Illinois in the final five innings of the game. However, Gateway's offense disappeared once again through the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. FINAL SCORE: Southern Illinois 5, Grizzlies 4.

Gateway reliever Jackson Sigman pitched admirably and kept the Grizzlies in the game through the later innings. He gave up no runs off of no hits and struck out five in three innings of work.

Dylan Craig suffered the loss to bring his record down to 1-5 on the season. He allowed eight hits, five runs (four earned), and walked one in five innings of work.

The Grizzlies will be back in action Wednesday night as they face the Miners in game two of the series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. All of the action can be heard on the Grizzlies Media Network.

ABOUT THE GATEWAY GRIZZLIES: The Gateway Grizzlies are a professional baseball team, located a mere 100-yards from I-255 (10 minutes from downtown St. Louis). The Grizzlies offer baseball fans entertainment, the likes of which are difficult to find - affordable, family, fun in the comfortable GCS Credit Union Ballpark with a great view of the St. Louis skyline. For tickets or general information please visit gatewaygrizzlies.com or call 618.337.3000.

ABOUT THE FRONTIER LEAGUE: The Frontier League is celebrating its 25^th season as a professional, independent baseball organization. Since its inception, the Frontier League has provided millions of fans to a fun and exciting baseball experience within the American Midwest. Consisting of 12 teams in two divisions and 96 game schedules, the league is recognized for the amount of talented athletes that are picked up by various MLB teams every year.