\'Hawks hitters hammer way to 20-17 win
September 1, 2009 - Frontier League (FL)
Rockford RiverHawks News Release
LOVES PARK, Ill. - Caleb Fields set the stage for the biggest offensive night of the year and turned out to be the star of the show.
Fields led off the game with a first-pitch home run to dead center field and doubled home the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning on Tuesday as the Rockford RiverHawks twice rallied from the verge of a blowout and beat the Gateway Grizzlies, 20-17.
The Grizzlies lost leads of 7-1 and 16-9. Rockford rallied for eight runs in a 13-batter eighth inning, gave up the tying run in the bottom of the eighth, then scored three unearned runs in the ninth to break a 17-17 tie. Fields was 4-for-6 with two doubles, a walk and a career-best five RBI for the RiverHawks, who both scored and allowed a season-high run total. There were nine lead changes or ties.
Fields and Matt Mazurek homered for the RiverHawks. Gateway's Charlie Lisk, Alex Kerins, Nate Lape and Peter Tountas all homered - the first time through the batting order.
In the eighth, the RiverHawks drew four straight one-out walks before Mazurek hit a grand slam to right field. Fields, Doug Sanders and Derrick Walker all doubled in two-out runs to give the RiverHawks a 17-16 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Lape led off with a double and scored on an error.
In the ninth, after an error by third baseman Wilson Matos and a Mazurek single put two aboard, Chris Wiman struck out the next two. Fields doubled off the wall in left-center to drive in two, then scored on an error.
Ferdin Tejeda (1-2) won in relief. Tyler Pearson put two aboard in the bottom of the ninth, but struck out Lape, the possible tying run, to end the game and earn his first save. Wiman (4-2) took the loss.
The series continues at 6:05 p.m. Wednesday.
The RiverHawks come home to finish the season with a Labor Day weekend series against Windy City. The homestand opens at 7:05 p.m. Friday with postgame fireworks sponsored by FatWallet.com.
The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, a 12-team independent professional baseball league in its 17th season. Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit the RiverHawks online at www.rockfordriverhawks.com. Most games are broadcast live on ESPN 1380, and on the team website.
Frontier League Stories from September 1, 2009
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