SAUGET, Ill. — The Gateway Grizzlies bounced back from an early deficit to comeback and defeat the Traverse City Beach Bums 10-9 on Saturday night at GCS Ballpark.
The Grizzlies (27-44) trailed 3-0 after the top of the first, but then answered right back with four runs in the bottom half. They also trailed 6-5 later in the game. The Beach Bums (41-28) have now lost back-to-back games after winning five straight.
Gateway starter Collin Shaw struggled early in his second professional start. The right-hander issued a single and a walk in the first inning to bring up Brandon Jacobs with two outs. Jacobs then belted a home run over the left field fence to give Traverse City an early 3-0 lead.
The Grizzlies wouldn’t trail for long. Gateway strung together three straight hits with one out, the second scored Seth Heck when Craig Massoni doubled. Ben Waldrip followed with an RBI single and Gateway later tied the game when Grant Buckner walked with the bases loaded. Richard Seigel put the Grizzlies ahead 4-3 on an RBI groundout.
Waldrip extended the Gateway lead to 5-3 on an RBI groundout before the Beach Bums rattled off three straight runs. Shaw retired the first batter in the third inning, but then walked five straight. The walks allowed tow runs and tied the game at 5-5. The final walk knocked Shaw out of the game and Ross Spurgeon entered.
Spurgeon (1-0) allowed one run in 3.2 innings of work to keep the Grizzlies in the game and allow for the late comeback. The Gateway offense backed him up with five unanswered runs after they trailed 6-5 entering the bottom of the fourth.
Gateway scored three times on four hits in the fourth inning to take the lead, 8-6. Madison Beaird walked to start the inning and advanced to second base when Seth Heck singled. Back-to-back singles by Waldrip and Blake Brown scored Beaird and Heck to put the Grizzlies up 7-6. Grant Buckner would later tack on an RBI groundout to score Waldrip to extend the lead to two.
The fifth inning gave the Grizzlies their final two runs and all they needed. Waldrip delivered once again with an RBI single to drive in Heck with one out and extend the lead to 9-6. Craig Massoni, who reached on fielder’s choice, advanced to third base on the Waldrip single and scored moments later on a wild pitch.
The 10 runs turned out to be enough, although Traverse City made things interesting. The Beach Bums tallied three runs in the seventh inning to get within one run at 10-9, but Pete Perez and Tyler Thompson held Traverse City scoreless in the final two innings to secure the win.
Scott Vachon (1-1) picked up the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits in his three innings of work. Thompson picked up his seventh save of the season with the perfect ninth inning.
Heck led the Grizzlies offensively with a 4-4 performance at the dish, while Waldrip pitched in three hits and four RBI’s.
The Grizzlies and Beach Bums will finish their four-game series Sunday night at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. RHP Dakota Smith (1-1, 4.24) will take the mound for Gateway and he’s opposed by LHP Alex Phillips (2-2, 6.40). The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs on 101 ESPN’s digital platforms and 1400 AM KJFF. Sam Levitt and Kevin Schaefer will call the action.
