Members of the Gateway Grizzlies watch the action from their dugout during Wednesday night’s 8-2 win over the Lake Erie Crushers (Photo by: Nathan Assata)

by Cedric Williams
Senior Editor

SAUGET, IL – After suffering through a rough weekend, which included two late-inning losses and a three-game losing streak, the Gateway Grizzlies bounced back in a big way and a quick way Wednesday night in a Frontier League baseball game against the visiting Lake Erie Crushers at GCS Credit Union Ballpark.

Gateway batted around in the first inning, with seven hits — five of them extra base hits — and scored six runs in an outburst that led the Grizzlies to a 8-2 win over the Crushers.

Catcher Chase Vallot and third baseman Jose Rosario delivered the big blows of that first inning.

Vallot smacked a two-run double off the top of the centerfield wall to put Gateway on the boards. Then just two pitches later, Rosario crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall to give the Grizzlies a 4-0 lead before most of the 1,056 fans in attendance had gotten comfortable in their seats.

Justin Jones and Dustin Woodcock added RBI doubles, both off the centerfield wall like Vallot’s, to give Gateway a 6-0 lead it would never relinquish.

For the night, every member of the Grizzlies’ starting lineup had at least one hit, with Justin Jones leading the way with three. Rookie Eric Jones had two hits as did veterans Rosario and Axel Johnson.

Starting pitcher Jorge Tavarez (2-0) was the main benefactor of Gateway’s big night. He pitched six strong innings and gave up just two runs and seven hits, while striking out a career-high 10 to get the win on the mound and help the Grizzlies improve their season record to 5-7.

Lefty Mike Feierabend (0-2) took the loss for Lake Erie after lasting just an inning and a thirdm and giving up seven runs on nine hits.

The Grizzlies and Crushers will play their series finale Thursday evening at GCS Credit Union Ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 p.m.