Kevin Krause smacked his 7th homer of the season to lead the Gateway Grizzlies to a win over the Evansville Otters on Sunday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

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WP: Matt Hickey (4-2) LP: Jon Beymer (4-2) SV: Leoni De La Cruz (10)

SAUGET, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies got back on their series-winning track, Sunday evening, when they defeated the Evansville Otters 5-3 in a Frontier League Baseball game at Grizzlies Ballpark that helped the home team win two of three games this weekend over the visitors.

Gateway led most of the game, behind a strong pitching night from ace starter Deylen Miley, who went 7 1/3 innings and only allowed three hits and three walks. Miley also struck out eight to raise his league-leading K total to 132 on the season.

But Miley, who left the game with a 3-0 lead, didn’t factor in the win or loss because Evansville’s Dakota Phillips bashed a three-run home run off Matt Hickey in the top of the eighth to tie the score.

Fortunately, the Grizzlies were ready for a bit of drama of their own.

First baseman Peter Zimmermann led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk, and after Evansville changed pitchers, Gateway catcher Kevin Krause smacked his seventh homer of the season to put the Grizzlies back on top.

Gateway had a chance to potentially add more runs later in the inning, when one batter reached on a walk and another lined a single to left-center. But Evansville’s relief crew managed to get out of the inning by only giving up two runs.

The Grizzlies brought closer Leoni De La Cruz in to finish the night. And he did just that by mowing down the Otters to close out the game and pick up his 10th save of the season.

Despite giving up the lead, Hickey (2-3) did get the win.

Gateway took the initial lead in the bottom of the third, when Edwin Mateo scored on a fielding error on a ball hit by Abdiel Diaz. Diaz later scored on a sacrifice fly by Zimmermann. That made the score 2-0.

Designated hitter Tyler Shelnut, a rookie who played the past two collegiate seasons at the University of Florida and hit 16 homers for the Gators this spring, hit his first professional home run in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 3-0.

The win raised Gateway’s season record to 46-31 and also gave the club another series win. The Grizzlies had won 10 series in a row, before losing two of three to the Joliet Slammers earlier this week.

Gateway will enjoy a day off on Monday, before returning to the diamond on Tuesday to begin a series against the Lake Erie Crushers. Tuesday’s contest will be played in Springfield, Ill., with Wednesday’s and Thursday’s game coming back to Grizzlies ballpark.

First pitch for all three games will be at 6:30 p.m.

UPCOMING GATEWAY GRIZZLIES BASEBALL GAMES

DateTimeAtOpponentLocation
August 13, 2024
(Tuesday)		6:30 pmNeutralLake Erie CrushersSpringfield, IL
August 14, 2024
(Wednesday)		6:30 pmHomeLake Erie CrushersGrizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL
August 15, 2024
(Thursday)		6:30 pmHomeLake Erie CrushersGrizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL
August 16, 2024 (Friday)6:35 pmAwayWindy City ThunderBoltsOzinga Field / Crestwood, IL
August 17, 2024 (Saturday)6:05 pmAwayWindy City ThunderBoltsOzinga Field / Crestwood, IL
August 18, 2024 (Sunday)1:05 pmAwayWindy City ThunderBoltsOzinga Field / Crestwood, IL
August 20, 2024 (Tuesday)6:30 pmHomeFlorence Y’allsGrizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL
August 21, 2024 (Wednesday)6:30 pmHomeFlorence Y’allsGrizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL
August 22, 2024 (Thursday)6:30 pmHomeFlorence Y’allsGrizzlies Ballpark / Sauget, IL