FOR RELEASE: JUNE 22, 2009

GRIZZLIES DROP SECOND IN SERIES TO MINERS

MARION, IL-The Southern Illinois Miners scored five times in the eighth inning Monday night to pull away with a 9-2 victory over the Gateway Grizzlies at Rent One Park.

The Miners have won the first two in the series, and have won eight consecutive home games against the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies last win in Marion came in August of 2007.

Grizzlies starter Adam Bowling (1-4) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over seven innings of work. He struck out three and walked only one.

The Miners (17-14) touched up the Grizzlies’ bullpen in the eighth. Sean Ellis started the inning for Gateway and walked the first two hitters he faced. Joey Metropoulos followed with a three-run home run to make it 7-1. Ellis faced two more hitters, retiring one and walking the other. Chad Epperson took over with a runner on and one out. Ellis walked the first two hitters he faced before giving up a hit, then using two fielder’s choices to end the inning.

The Grizzlies (11-18) scored a run in the ninth off the Miners’ bullpen. Chris Wiman gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases before Chris McClendon drove in his second run of the year with a sacrifice fly to left. The Grizzlies first run came in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Jareck West. West’s RBI, his 16^th, was his fourth in the series. That cut the lead at the time to 2-1.

Joseph Scaperotta was 3-3 to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Stephen Holdren and Breck Draper each had two hits for the Grizzlies, who out-hit the Miners 10-9 in the game.

The Grizzlies and Miners will conclude the series with a 7:05 pm game Tuesday night at Rent One Park.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball