GRIZZLIES SWEPT AS OFFENSE FALTERS AT LAKE ERIE

AVON, Ohio – The Gateway Grizzlies' offense collected only four hits in the series finale at All Pro Freight Stadium, dropping Thursday night's game 3-1 against the Lake Erie Crushers.  

The Grizzlies (12-24) scored only two runs in the three game series and were unable to capitalize on RHP Max Schonfeld's terrific start. Schonfeld (2-2) allowed just two runs in seven innings on the mound.

Gateway's offense got off to quick start by taking the lead in the second inning against Crushers' righty Rob Blanc (1-2). Rolando Gomez doubled to start the frame and was driven in by Ben Waldrip's RBI single. The Grizzlies then stranded two of the seven runners they would leave on base throughout the game. 

The score remained 1-0 until the sixth, when Lake Erie scratched across two runs off Schonfeld. Trevor Stevens walked to begin the inning and scored on Ty Nelson's run-scoring double. A wild pitch ultimately allowed Nelson to score, which gave Lake Erie a 2-1 lead. 

The Grizzlies immediately mounted a rally in the seventh.  A pair of walks by LHP Matt Brankle put the tying and go-ahead runs on base, but Lake Erie's Kolby Moore induced a ground out from Richard Seigel to end the inning.

Lake Erie (14-19) added to their lead with an insurance run in the eighth when Joey Burney singled home a run to make it 3-1. RHP Trevor Longfellow secured the Crushers' fourth straight win by pitching a scoreless ninth for his seventh save of the season. 

The Grizzlies are now 3-14 on the road in 2015, but return home to GCS Ballpark on Friday for the start of a three-game series against the Rockford Aviators. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The Grizzlies send RHP Troy Barton to the mound for his first start of the year. Barton has a 3.60 ERA working out of the bullpen for Gateway this season.

The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs on 101 ESPN's digital platforms and 1400 AM KJFF. Sam Levitt and Kevin Schaefer will call the action.