Press Release; Photo Credit: Mick Lite
Rockford first baseman Kenny Bryant drove in Jeff Kremer on a 14th inning single and the Aviators picked up a 5-4 walk-off win in the series opener Tuesday night at Aviators Stadium.
With the game tied 4-4 in the 14th inning, Bryant drove in his third run of the game after Kremer doubled for his fifth hit of the game.
The scored had been tied 4-4 since the eighth inning. Both teams collected 16 hits with the Grizzlies stranding 15 runners on base.
Ben Waldrip went 4-for-7 to lead the Grizzlies offense while Kale Kiser and Niko Vasquez both picked up three hits.
Gateway (31-16) scored their first run of the game on a Rockford first inning error to take an early 1-0 lead.
Rockford (21-23) outfielder Edgar Corcino answered with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning before Gateway reeled off three straight runs.
Michael Wing drove in a run with a single in the third inning while Xavier Macklin and Landon Hernandez hit solo home runs in the fourth and fifth innings to give Gateway a 4-1 lead.
Rockford scored two runs on four hits off of Grizzlies starting pitcher Tucker Jensen in the sixth inning to make the score 4-3.
Jensen allowed three runs on ten hits in six innings of work. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out one and didn’t walk a batter while collecting a no-decision.
Rockford tied the game in the eighth inning on a Bryant lead off solo home run against Grizzlies reliever Luke Westphal.
The Grizzlies and Aviators play a day game on Wednesday at 12:05. Right-hander Ja’Vaun West (6-1) will make the start for the Grizzlies.
