By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters rode big fourth and sixth innings to take the sweep of the series against the Gateway Grizzlies 13-8 on Thursday night at the Corn Crib.
It was a pitcher’s duel into the fourth inning, when Aaron Dudley led off with a solo homer to put Normal on the board. Jesus Solorzano followed that up with a single, but came home on a two-run homer from league home run leader Nolan Meadows to put the score 3-0. Dillon Haupt bounced a single into left center, and two more scored when Craig Lepre grabbed his first homer of the season to put the Belters up by five.
In the top half of the fifth, Zach Lavy reached first with a single and was advanced on a single from Josh Bunselmeyer. Jason Scholl hit a grounder to bring in Lavy and give the Grizzlies a run.
The second half of the offensive onslaught came in the bottom of the sixth. Haupt started the inning with a single, and advanced to third on a double from Lepre. R.J. Perucki picked up an RBI with a single of his own, and Mike Skoller put two on with the fourth consecutive hit, scoring Lepre and putting the Belters up 7-1. Mitch Elliott advanced the runners and scored Perucki with a single, and Santiago Chirino filled the bases after being hit by a pitch. A walk to Dudley brought in Skoller to put the score at 9-1. A sacrifice fly from Meadows brought Elliott home and brought Haupt back to the plate for the second time in the inning. Haupt singled again bringing in another run, followed by a single from Lepre. Perucki singled for the eighth hit of inning and brought in the eighth run, putting the Belters up 13-1.
The Grizzlies responded with a couple of runs of their own in the top of the seventh. Bunselmeyer got his second hit of the night with a double to left, and Scholl hit a towering homer to add two runs to the board and put the score at 13-3.
The top of the eighth started with two consecutive walks from reliever John Leiter. A single from Ben Waldrip scored one, followed by a double from Bunselmeyer that brought two more in and put the score at 13-6.
The last effort from the Grizzlies came in the top of the ninth. Sam Fischer singled with two outs and scored on a double from Blake Brown. Waldrip added a single, scoring Brown putting the Grizzlies within five, but they wouldn’t get any closer.
Mike Schweiss (3-4) grabbed the win for the Belters, pitching seven innings and allowing seven hits and three runs with four strikeouts. Will Landsheft (3-5) took the loss, pitching five innings and allowing 11 hits and eight runs. He walked one and struck out four.
The Belters are back at it Friday night when the Florence Freedom come to town for the last series before the All-Star break. First pitch is 6:35 p.m. and it will be a CEFCU Fireworks Friday.
