The Grizzlies’ offense came alive on Thursday night, as Gateway exploded for 14 runs on 18 hits in a 14-6 win against the Normal CornBelters.
Grizzlies’ third baseman Grant Buckner stole the show early after he blasted two home runs in the game’s first three innings against Cornbelters RHP Kevin Johnson (0-1). Buckner hit a deep grand slam in the first inning to give Gateway an early 4-0 lead. Grant Nelson then singled to bring in Ben Waldrip, making it 5-0.
The Grizzlies (2-4) took a 5-2 edge into the third inning, when the bats chipped in for two more runs. Buckner popped a solo shot over the left-center field fence for his second homer of the night, which was followed by Madison Beaird’s RBI single.
Normal’s offense didn’t go down quietly as the CornBelters scored two more runs off of Grizzlies’ starting pitcher JaVaun West (1-0) in the bottom half of the third. Gateway centerfielder Blake Brown hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to make it 8-4.
Gateway took a 9-5 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, when the CornBelters (3-3) loaded the bases with nobody out. Grizzlies RHP Troy Barton escaped the inning with only one run allowed.
With the score at 9-6, the Grizzlies pulled away in the top half of the seventh. Brown drove in two runs with a single to make it 11-6. Richard Seigel followed in the next at-bat with a two-run double, which put the Grizzlies up 13-6.
Gateway’s bullpen shined as RHP Scott Harkin and RHP Zach Loraine combined for three scoreless innings in relief. Normal used six different pitchers to complete nine innings of work.
The Grizzlies begin a three-game series against the Joliet Slammers on Friday night in Joliet, Ill. First pitch on Friday is at 7:05 p.m. Gateway sends righty Tyler Thompson (0-0, 3.60 ERA) to the mound against Joliet LHP Brett DeVall (0-0, 0.00 ERA).
