Grizzlies Power Past Boomers For Series Win

Sauget, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies used a big fourth inning and a terrific outing from Adam Eggnatz to beat the Schaumburg Boomers 6-3 on Thursday night as Gateway took the rubber game of a three-game set.

Eggnatz (5-2) tossed 7.2 innings while giving up just three runs on seven hits. The righty has now allowed just 12 runs combined in his last six starts.

With the score tied 1-1 in the fourth, Gateway’s bats came to life. The Grizzlies (32-33) batted around in the frame while Zach Lavy’s three-run blast to right field put Gateway ahead, 4-1. An RBI single from Seth Heck made it 5-1.

The Grizzlies began the scoring in the first in unusual fashion. Heck stood on third base when Schaumburg catcher Jack Cockrum missed RHP Kagen Hopkins with a throw back to the mound. Heck raced for home as the ball trickled towards the second base. Hopkins (3-4) took the loss while giving up five runs over five innings of work.

In the top half of the fourth, the Boomers (28-36) tied the game on Jordan Dean’s solo homer.

Eggnatz gave up a two-run homer to Paul Kronenfeld in the top of the eighth as Schaumburg made it 5-3. After a walk, RHP Jordan Wellander entered the game and struck out Kenny Towns to end the threat.

With the Grizzlies leading 6-3 in the ninth, RHP Will LaMarche came on and struck out the first two hitters he faced. After that, he went on to walk three batters in a row. RHP Kevin Jefferis replaced him and secured the win as he induced a line out from Dean to end the game.. Jefferis picked up his seventh save of the year.

Josh Bunselmeyer led Gateway’s offense with three hits and two runs scored, while Ben Waldrip and Logan Davis both chipped in with a pair of hits.

The Grizzlies continue their homestand at GCS Ballpark with the opener of a three-game series on Friday night against the Windy City ThunderBolts. RHP Will Landsheft takes the ball for Gateway with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.