FOR RELEASE: JULY 28, 2009

GRIZZLIES POUND MINERS TO AVOID SWEEP

SAUGET, IL-The Gateway Grizzlies banged out 17 hits and scored 17 times Tuesday night to defeat the Southern Illinois Miners 17-3 and avoid a three-game sweep at GCS Ballpark. The 17 runs and 17 hits are both season-highs for the Grizzlies.

Jereme Milons led off the game with a home run to put Southern Illinois (33-26) up 1-0. It is the last lead the Miners would enjoy.

The Grizzlies (25-34) used three hits to push five runs across in the bottom of the first to take a 5-1 lead. Stephen Holdren, Charlie Lisk and Joe Agreste each had RBI doubles in the inning.

Gateway scored four runs in the fourth inning and added six more in the sixth.

The first-inning double was just the start of the night for Lisk. The Grizzlies’ catcher added a three-run homer in the fourth and a two-run shot in the sixth to finish the night 3-5 with the pair of long balls and six RBIs, one short of the franchise record in a game. Lisk now has 23 homers and a career-high 65 RBIs. Both totals lead the Frontier League.

Agreste and Joseph Scaperotta each had three hits for the Grizzlies. Holdren was 2-5 with the RBI and three runs scored. Brandon Johnson, Darrick Hale and Alex Kerins each drove in two runs for the Grizzlies. Kerins added his fourth homer of the year in the fourth inning.

While the offense enjoyed a strong night, Grizzlies starter Jamie Arneson was enjoying his second consecutive strong start. Arneson allowed three runs on four hits over eight innings of work to improve to 4-0 in a Grizzlies uniform. The left-hander struck out six.

The Grizzlies begin a three-game series with the Windy City Thunderbolts Wednesday at GCS Ballpark. First pitch is set for 7:05 pm.

Joe Pott

Broadcaster

Gateway Grizzlies Frontier League Baseball