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Sauget, Ill. – With the game tied in the bottom half of the 10th inning at GCS Ballpark, Tyler Tewell laced an RBI single to win it for the Gateway Grizzlies as they won the rubber game of a three-game set against the Florence Freedom, 4-3.
It was another great evening for the Grizzlies’ bullpen, as four relievers combined to allow just one run in the game’s final 4.2 innings.
Gateway (15-19) struck early in a bizarre third inning, as they collected four straight hits but only scored a single run. With two outs and Craig Massoni standing on second base, Brandon Thomas hit a ground ball that redirected off the pitcher’s mound and into left field. Massoni came around to score with the game’s first run.
Blake Brown then added his sixth homer of the season in the fourth inning for Gateway’s second run.
Florence (8-24) tied the game in the fifth. Collins Cuthrell began the frame against RHP Trevor Richards with a solo blast while Travis Weaver delivered an RBI single later in the inning to tie the game at 2-2.
The Grizzlies then scratched across a run in the sixth while the Freedom struck again in the eighth inning on an RBI groundout from Richard Seigel.
RHP Will LaMarche worked out of a jam for the Grizzlies in a scoreless ninth inning while RHP Jon Pusateri (1-0) struck out two batters in the top half of the tenth to keep the game tied at 3-3.
Freedom closer Ethan Gibbons (1-2) took the loss. He surrendered a leadoff walk to Seth Heck in the tenth and then gave up a ground rule double to Brandon Thomas to put runners on second and third with one out. Tewell stepped in and picked up his 13th RBI of the season with the game-winning hit.
After a day off on Monday, the Grizzlies return to action on Tuesday night against the Normal CornBelters as they begin a nine-game road trip. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. at the Corn Crib.
The game can be heard on the Grizzlies Radio Network, which airs Tuesday on 1400 AM KJFF and online at www.GatewayGrizzlies.com/Radio
