LIVESAY, WEST LEAD GATEWAY TO WILD WIN
NORMAL, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies (23-49) scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to come from behind and beat the Normal CornBelters (33-37) 10-8 in a back-and-forth ballgame Saturday night.
Gateway took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, sending all nine batters to the plate in the process. Cody Livesay had the big blow with a two-run single. After the CornBelters plated a pair in the bottom of the inning, the Grizzlies added another run in the second to take a 5-2 lead.
Gateway picked up a sixth run in the fourth and one more in the seventh, but Normal battled back with five runs on six hits in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game.
Then in the eighth, the CornBelters scored another run to take an 8-7 advantage.
But the Grizzlies didn't quit, scoring three in the top of the ninth on an Evan Rogers RBI single and a Brett Sakurai two-run knock. Kaleb Earls slammed the door in the bottom of the ninth for his seventh save in a 10-8 Gateway win.
Ja'Vaun West got a hard-luck no-decision after he worked a quality start — he allowed two runs over six innings with five strikeouts.
Livesay finished the night 3-4 with four RBIs, a walk, two steals and two runs. Dan Holst was 2-5 with two RBIs, Ramon Osuna was 3-5 with an RBI.
Gateway returns to action for the rubber match of three-game series in Normal tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. with Grizzlies Media Network coverage beginning at 3:50.
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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.