The Gateway Grizzlies showcased their offensive prowess on Sunday afternoon, erupting for nine runs in the first two innings to secure a commanding 10-3 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers. This win marked their third consecutive series triumph, highlighting their strong form on the road.
The Grizzlies wasted no time asserting dominance against Crushers’ debutant pitcher Jaydon Bishop (0-1). In the first inning, Mark Shallenberger ignited the rally with a single, followed by walks to D.J. Stewart and Jose Alvarez, loading the bases. Paxton Wallace delivered a clutch two-run single to right field, giving Gateway an early 2-0 lead.
The second inning saw the Grizzlies’ bats explode for seven runs. After Bishop was pulled following a strikeout, reliever Brandon Scheurer struggled to contain Gateway’s offense. Dale Thomas singled, and Shallenberger launched a two-run homer to right, pushing the lead to 4-0. The onslaught continued with Alvarez’s single and three consecutive walks, with Abdiel Diaz’s bases-loaded walk making it 5-0. Edwin Mateo capped the inning with a bases-clearing double down the left-field line, followed by another Thomas single, ballooning the lead to 9-0.
Gateway’s debutant pitcher, Xander Lovin, navigated a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and went on to pitch four solid innings, striking out four. The Crushers managed a run in the fourth via a walk and an RBI double, but the Grizzlies responded in the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Shallenberger, who finished with three RBIs, restoring the nine-run cushion at 10-1.
Lake Erie added two runs in the seventh, but Gateway’s bullpen held firm to secure the 10-3 win, their second straight rubber game victory. Shallenberger led the charge, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Thomas and Stewart contributed multi-hit games. Mateo and Wallace also drove in multiple runs, showcasing the team’s balanced attack.
Riding a wave of momentum, the Grizzlies return to Arsenal BG Ballpark for a nine-game homestand, starting with a matchup against the Washington Wild Things on Tuesday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m. CT. Fans can expect more fireworks as Gateway looks to continue their winning ways.
