GRIZZLIES' PITCHING STRUGGLES IN SERIES OPENER AT RIVER CITY

O'FALLON, Mo. -- The Gateway Grizzlies trailed by 13 runs after four innings and couldn't mount a comeback in a 16-2 loss to the River City Rascals on Friday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark.

Gateway starting pitcher Vincent Molesky (3-3) didn't have his best stuff, allowing nine runs in only 1.1 innings of work.

River City tallied one run on an RBI double by Danny Canela in the first inning and then touched up Molesky for nine runs in the second. The Rascals sent 12 batters to the plate and scored nine times on five hits. Taylor Ard started things off with a leadoff home run to make it 2-0 River City.

A double and walk followed, before Jackson Slaid pitched in an RBI single. Molesky recorded one out in the inning on a fielder's choice and the hit parade continued against Dakota Smith. Hector Crespo came through with a two-RBI single and Josh Ludy followed suit with a two-RBI single of his own to extend the Rascals' lead to 7-0. The final blow came from Ard, as he homered for the second time in the inning to make it 10-0 River City after two innings.

Ard smacked another homer in the fourth inning. Crespo was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to third on a single by Canela. Crespo later came around to score on an RBI groundout by Josh Ludy before Ard delivered his third home run of the evening. That home run made it 13-0 Rascals after four innings.

While the Grizzlies' offense couldn't get much going, the Rascals' offense kept chugging along. They added three more runs in the fifth inning off a double by Brian Hansen and a single by Crespo.

Gateway added their lone runs in the eighth inning. Ben Waldrip singled with one out to plate Madison Beaird and Blake Brown came around to score later in the inning on an infield single by Seth Heck.

Tim Koons (7-0) picked up the win for the Rascals while allowing one run in 7.2 innings of work. Madison Beaird paced the Gateway offense with three hits.

The Grizzlies and Rascals will continue their series on Saturday night at T.R. Hughes Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. RHP Tyler Thompson (1-4, 3.49) will pitch for the Grizzlies and LHP Lucas Laster (0-1, 4.18) will take the mound for the Rascals. Sam Levitt and Kevin Schaefer will call the action on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs on 101 ESPN's digital platforms and 1400 AM KJFF. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m.