GRIZZLIES OFFENSE STRUGGLES, MINERS TAKE GAME ONE

SAUGET, Ill. – Ja'Vaun West had his fourth consecutive quality start on Tuesday night, but the Grizzlies' offense struggled. FINAL SCORE: Gateway 1, Southern Illinois 5.

  The Grizzlies struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Evan Rogers laced an RBI double into the right centerfield gap, giving Gateway an early 1-0 lead.

After three scoreless innings, Southern Illinois made their way on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth. Craig Massey smashed a two-run home run over the right centerfield wall to give the Miners their first lead of the game.

Gateway's best chance to get back into the ballgame came in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jack Hranec stepped up to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. Hranec struck out swinging to end the threat.

Southern Illinois added some insurance runs in the top half of the ninth inning with a three-run home run by Romeo Cortina. The Miners led 5-1 going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Grizzlies could not answer in the final frame as they dropped game one of the series by a final score of 5-1.

 

Gateway starter Ja'Vaun West allowed only two runs through six innings pitched. He walked one and struck out four in the loss.

Gateway will take on the Southern Illinois Miners in game two of the series at GCS Credit Union Ballpark on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. All of the action can be heard on the Grizzlies Media Network.

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 25^th 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.