ThunderBolts Suffer Late Loss to Gateway

CRESTWOOD, IL – The Gateway Grizzlies scored six runs over the final two innings to deliver the ThunderBolts a 6-4 loss at Ozinga Field Saturday night.

The ThunderBolts (47-42) led most of the night, starting their scoring with two runs in the third inning. The inning began with back-to-back walks and the bases were loaded on an error. They got their runs on a Michael Sandle RBI walk and a run-scoring double play.

Victor Cerny doubled in the fourth inning and came home on a Daryl Ruiz single that made the score 3-0.

One more insurance run came home in the sixth as Carlos Peña, who went 4-for-4 in the game, singled and scored on a Ruiz sacrifice fly.

Tyler Biddinger threw 5.1 scoreless innings to keep the Bolts in control until Gateway (38-51) finally broke through in the eighth. Bryson Horne hit a leadoff double and scored on a sacrifice fly. With two outs, Jose Alvarez walked, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error to make it a 4-2 game.

In the ninth, with a runner at first base, Darryl Lee hit a flyball to left field that was misplayed, putting runners at second and third. Derek Williams doubled both runs home to tie the score. Williams came home on a groundout and Abdiel Diaz tripled in another run, giving the Grizzlies a two-run lead.

The Bolts got two singles in the bottom of the ninth, putting the tying run on base, but Julio Ortiz was able to get the final out to earn his fourth save.

Andrew Ronne (5-5) pitched an inning for the win and Justin Lovell (5-5) took the loss.

The ThunderBolts look for the series victory on JULIE Family Sunday at Ozinga Field. Ramon Rodriguez (2-2, 3.79) starts for the Bolts against Gateway’s Ty Good (6-2, 4.85). First pitch from Ozinga Field is scheduled for 1:05 and the broadcast details can be found at wcthunderbolts.com.