Grizzlies’ big 1st inning leads to win over CornBelters

Posted on May 22, 2015

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters fell behind early and dropped a 14-6 decision to the Gateway Grizzlies on Thursday night at the Corn Crib.

The Grizzlies wasted no time putting together a big inning as they batted 10 men in their first time up and scored five times, including a two-out grand slam home run by Grant Buckner. The CornBelters answered with a two-run homer by Pat McKenna in the bottom of the opening frame to cut the deficit to 5-2.

Gateway added a pair in the third inning when Buckner led off with another homer and Madison Beaird drove in another tally. Richard Lucas popped a two-run double for the CornBelters in the home third to cut the Grizzlies lead to 7-4.

The guests clubbed their third home run of the night as Blake Brown led off the fourth inning with a drive just over the left field fence to increase the lead to 8-4. A bases-loaded walk to Richard Seigel in the fifth increased the Grizzlies lead to 9-4.

Grizzlies starter JaVaun West walked the bases full in the fifth with one out but the Belters only scored one run on a fielder’s choice grounder by Ozney Guillen to cut the margin to 9-5. The Belters loaded the bases again in the sixth inning but scored just one run on a passed ball.

Gateway again exploded in the seventh when the first five hitters reached base with four of them scoring on a two-run single by Brown and a two-run double by Seigel to push their lead to 13-6. The final tally was registered by the guests when Buckner tripled with one out in the ninth and was doubled home by Ben Waldrip.

West (1-0) worked five innings for the win, giving up five runs on six hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Belters starter Kevin Johnson (0-1) took the loss, failing to get out of the third inning.

The home stand continues on CEFCU Fireworks Friday as the CornBelters host the Washington Wild Things with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. Mike Schweiss (0-1, 3.00 ERA) starts on the mound for the Belters while the Wild Things send Ryan Bores (0-0, 6.00) to the hill in a match-up of right-handers.

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