GRIZZLIES DROP SERIES FINALE

Sauget, Ill. - The Gateway Grizzlies fell 13-1 on Thursday night at GCS Ballpark as the Southern Illinois Miners took the rubber game of a three-game series. 

The Miners (61-32) scored five times in the first inning against Gateway lefty Jon Jones. Aaron Gates and Shane Kennedy hit back-to-back doubles to begin the game and then allowed an RBI single to Alex De Leon. Jones (4-4) gave up a three-run homer to Steve Marino later in the inning. 

Southern Illinois tacked on a pair of solo shots in the second and third. Shane Kennedy popped a home run to centerfield while De Leon hit another homer to make it 7-0.

The Grizzlies (43-49) scored their lone run in the top half of the fourth against Miners lefty Rick Teasley (8-5). With two runners on-base, Cody Livesay hit an RBI single to put Gateway on the board. 

RHP Chris Rogers entered the game in relief for Jones and allowed three runs in the fourth. 

The best pitching performance out of Gateway's bullpen came from Kevin Jefferis. The righty tossed four scoreless frames to keep the Miners off the board. Southern Illinois scored two more in the eighth against RHP Jordan Wellander and RHP Ja'Vaun West. 

Aaron Gates topped things off with a solo homer against West in the eighth as the Miners pulled ahead 13-1.  

The Grizzlies begin their final series of 2016 on Friday night at GCS Ballpark against the Evansville Otters. First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. 

For tickets, please call the GCS Ballpark box office at (618) 337-3000 or visit www.GatewayGrizzlies.com.