GATEWAY DROPS OPENER IN NORMAL
NORMAL, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies (22-49) dropped the opener of a three-game series 7-3 Friday night to the Normal CornBelters (33-36).
Gateway went out to a 2-1 lead, but couldn't come back after Normal tied the game in the third inning and blew it open with a three-run fifth. The Grizzlies left two men on base in the seventh inning, and did the same in the ninth when CornBelters centerfielder Diego Cedeno made a sliding catch to end the game.
Cody Livesay manufactured a Grizzlies run by himself in the top of the first. After a one-out single, he swiped second and third — forcing a throwing error on the latter steal and coming in to score.
After Normal tied the game in the bottom half of the first, the Grizzlies scored again in the second when Dan Holst drove in his former Southeast Missouri State teammate Brian Lees with a two-out triple — Holst's first three-bagger as a professional.
After that, Normal scored four straight, taking a three-run lead in the fifth inning on three doubles.
Gateway notched a run in the seventh to tighten the ballgame, cutting Normal's lead to 5-3, but the CornBelters scored twice more in the bottom of inning for the final margin.
Alec Kisena (1-3) took the loss for the Grizzlies, allowing seven runs (six earned) over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out five and walked three.
Mike Elwood contributed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, over which he struck out two. Kyle Uhrich also threw a scoreless frame out of the Grizzlies' bullpen.
Holst finished with two hits, as did Livesay. Lees drove in a run with a double in addition to his run scored. Joel McKeithan had a double and Matt Hearn picked up a ninth inning single — Hearn has now hit in 40 of his last 45 games.
Gateway returns to action for the second matchup of three-game series in Normal tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. with Grizzlies Media Network coverage beginning at 6:20.
__________________________
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 25th 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.