Gateway’s D.J. Stewart slides in safely, after stealing a base during Thursday’s Frontier League Division Series game against Evansville. (Photo: Primo Greenway)

Game 1 – Sept. 7, 2023123456789RHE
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Steven Millbrook
Staff Writer

EVANSVILLE, IL — The Gateway Grizzlies were dealt a stunning blow in Game 1 of the 2023 Frontier League West Division Series, when Evansville’s Kona Quiggle blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the host Otters to a 4-3 come-from-behind win.

The victory gives Evansville a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, with a chance to close it out and to move on to the Frontier League Championship Series on Saturday, when the teams will play Game 2 at Grizzlies Ballpark. First pitch on Saturday is set for 7 p.m.

Thursday’s contest was a back and forth affair, which featured both teams rallying from deficits only to see the other team rally back to regain the lead.

Evansville got on the board right away with two outs in the bottom of the first on a Jeffrey Baez RBI single off Lukas Veinbergs, but would not get another run for the next couple innings as the right-hander settled in.

Braden Scott would hold Gateway off the board despite the Grizzlies getting the tying run into scoring position in both the second and third innings, but would surrender the tying tally in the top of the fourth when Mark Vierling drove in D.J. Stewart with an RBI double, extending his hit streak to 12 games and knotting the score at 1-1.

But the lead would last just three batters, as Baez hit a one-out triple to center field before Quiggle singled him home for a 2-1 Evansville lead. Scott would pitch seven innings to hold the advantage, striking out eight batters and leaving in line for the victory.

But he would not get the victory thanks to a two-out rally by the Grizzlies in the eighth against Kevin Davis.

With two outs and a runner at first base, that runner, Peter Zimmermann, stole second before Andrew Penner floated an RBI single to shallow center field to tie the game again at 2-2.

Stewart then reached on a fielder’s choice, with Penner beating the late throw to second base to extend the inning, and Vierling followed with a go-ahead RBI infield single into the grass in shallow right field, giving the Grizzlies their first lead at 3-2.

Nate Garkow and Brian Eichhorn would combine for a scoreless bottom of the eighth inning that featured two outs on the bases from the Otters, including the tying run being thrown out at the plate by Jairus Richards, to preserve the lead.

In the bottom of the ninth though, Josh Lucas put the tying run on base for free with the Grizzlies’ third leadoff walk of the game, and after a Baez flyout, Quiggle hit a walk-off home run over the right field fence, sending Gateway to the shocking loss at Bosse Field.

The Grizzlies now return home for a must-win Game 2 on Saturday night.

2023 Frontier League West Division Championship Series Schedule
Game 2 – Sat., Sept. 9 — Evansville Otters at Gateway Grizzlies — 7 pm
Game 3 – Sun., Sept. 10 — Evansville Otters at Gateway Grizzlies — 7 pm
(if necessary)
All Grizzlies home games will be played at Grizzlies Ballpark in Sauget, IL.