Grizzlies Mount Comeback for Home-Opening Win
Published on May 12, 2026 under Frontier League (FL)
Gateway Grizzlies News Release
SAUGET, ILL. - The Gateway Grizzlies came away victorious in their home-opener at Arsenal BG Ballpark, defeating the Joliet Slammers, 6-3 on Tuesday night.
Alec Sparks, making his first professional start, labored to begin the game, needing 38 pitches to get out of a one-run first inning for the Joliet offense. Slammers shortstop Nico Bermeo then lined an opposite field home run through the wind to right, scoring Brandon Heidal to capture a 3-0 lead in the second inning. That's when Sparks settled in. The righty retired nine straight Slammers after the home run, giving his team four solid innings in his home debut.
Offensively, the Grizzlies struggled to get anything going against Joliet starter Eric Turner. Gateway failed to muster a hit through the first four frames before loading the bases against Turner in the fifth. While the Grizzlies couldn't scratch a run across in the inning, the traffic did help chase Turner after six shutout innings and set the table for the Gateway comeback.
In the seventh, Sawyer Smith sparked the offense with a solo home run off Slammers reliever Donovan Smith (0-1), making the score 3-1. An error by Joliet second baseman A.J. Orrico followed, and Cade Parker drew a walk, setting up an RBI knock from Cole Brannen that made it 3-2, and a wild pitch by Slammers reliever Marcus Morgan then knotted the game up at 3-3. That's when José Alvarez delivered the eventual game-winning hit, drilling a single into right field to put the Grizzlies up 5-3.
Gateway would add insurance in the bottom of the eighth, when Parker delivered a two-out, run-scoring double to the deepest part of the park in center field, scoring Smith for a 6-3 lead. That was more than enough cushion for Grizzlies' closer Sam Gardner, who struck out the side for the second time this season, earning save number two. Earning the win with four shutout innings of relief was Gage Vailes (1-0) in his season debut, striking out seven, and allowing just two Joliet batters to reach base.
The Grizzlies will look to make it back-to-back wins and a series victory over the Slammers with a quick turnaround on Wednesday morning, May 13, at 10:45 a.m. CT. Ben Harris will make his second start of the season against Joliet right-hander Nick Cosentino at Arsenal BG Ballpark.
Frontier League Stories from May 12, 2026
- Bats Arrive Early as Otters Remain Sole Unbeaten Team - Evansville Otters
- Grizzlies Mount Comeback for Home-Opening Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Grizzlies muster a comeback to win their Opening Day game against the Slammers - Joliet Slammers
- Boomers Erupt to Nab Middle Game - Schaumburg Boomers
- Bird Dawgs Silenced in 9-1 Home Opener Loss to Québec - Down East Bird Dawgs
- Zeisler, Bobo Power Florence to First Win - Florence Y'alls
- Wild Things Hit Three More Homers, Early Hole Too Big in Opener at Bosse Field - Washington Wild Things
- Early Lead Not Enough, Titans Doubled up to Start Trip - Ottawa Titans
- Crushers Silenced at Home against ThunderBolts - Lake Erie Crushers
- Bolts Dominate Crushers in Series Opener - Windy City ThunderBolts
- NY Boulders to Celebrate Annual Reading Program Champions - New York Boulders
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
