FL Normal CornBelters

CornBelters Drop Hard-Fought Doubleheader at Gateway

Published on August 9, 2014 under Frontier League (FL)
Normal CornBelters News Release


SAUGET, Ill. - The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, dropped both ends of a hard-fought doubleheader by the same 4-3 score, the first game in 10 innings, to the Gateway Grizzlies on Friday night at GCS Ballpark.

In the opener, Sam Judah homered over the right center fence with one out in the fourth inning for the Belters' first hit and the game's first run. Landon Hernandez answered with a lead-off home run to deep right center in the bottom of the frame to knot the score at 1-1. A two-run towering homer to right later in the fourth by Ben Waldrip pushed the Grizzlies' lead to 3-1.

The Belters evened the score at 3-3 with a pair of runs in the sixth with a Mike Schwartz sacrifice fly and an RBI single by Aaron Dudley. The Normal eighth ended in controversial fashion with the Belters believing they had taken a lead when Ozney Guillen's single to center plated Schwartz, but Schwartz was ruled to have crossed the plate after the third out at third base, a ruling hotly contested by the CornBelters.

The Belters kept the Grizzlies from taking the win in the bottom of the ninth when catcher Tyler Shover jumped to take a high throw from the outfield and sweep-tag pinch-runner Cole Bieser to send the contest to the 10th inning. The Grizzlies captured the win in that frame, however, loading the bases with two singles and an intentional walk followed by a base hit by Michael Wing over the drawn-in outfield for the win.

Chris DeBoo (5-1) picked up the win while Jason Postill (5-2) took the loss.

In the nightcap, Gateway jumped on top right away with a first-inning RBI double by T.J. Bennett, who came home on a Wing base hit to deep left field for a 2-0 advantage. A two-run second-inning home run just over the right field fence by Madison Beaird put the hosts ahead 4-0.

The Belters broke through in the fifth when Guillen drew a lead-off walk, went to second on a fielder's choice and scored on a Jhiomar Veras single through the mound up the middle. Normal cut the deficit to 4-3 in the sixth when Richard Lucas led off with a double and scored on two fielder's choice with the RBI going to Guillen.

Andrew Aizenstadt (2-3) took the win while Cullen Babin (5-6) suffered the loss. Richard Barrett worked the final frame for his 15th save.

The Belters continue the road trip this weekend as they travel to suburban Cincinnati to face the Florence Freedom for a 5:05 p.m. Central Saturday contest and a 12:05 p.m. Central doubleheader on Sunday. The Belters take Monday off before a three-game home series against the Grizzlies beginning with a 4 p.m. Tuesday doubleheader and single games at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday.

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