Washington Wins Eighth Straight as It Defeats Gateway 19-10 Tuesday

SAUGET, Il. (June 12) – The Washington Wild Things opened their three-game series with a 19-10 win over the Gateway Grizzles at GCS Credit Union Ballpark Tuesday as the team won its eighth-consecutive contest.

This hitter's ballpark allowed Washington to dominate the offensive play with five home runs, including a grand slam.

Washington drew first blood, opening the scoring with four runs on four hits in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a triple off the bat of left fielder Roman Collins that scored a run and a two-run single by designated hitter Louis Mele. During their next at-bat, the Wild Things added six more runs with a three-run homer from catcher Kyle Pollock and a two-run homer from third baseman Mike Hill on top of an RBI-single from second baseman Carter McEachern, increasing the lead to 10-0 through the first two innings of play.

Gateway was able to open their scoring in the bottom of the fourth with designated hitter Terry McClure’s RBI double. One batter later, the Grizzlies scored three more runs on a home run by center fielder Justin Ellison.

The Wild Things were able to extend their lead with two, two-run homers: one by right fielder Hector Roa and the other by Pollock – his second home run of the night - in the sixth.

Gateway attempted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth and got five runs on two home runs hit by third baseman Joel McKeithan and right fielder Blake Brown, bringing the score to 14-9 in favor of Washington.

In the seventh inning, Collins hit a grand slam, the third of the season for Washington, and Roa plated Pollock to make it 19-9.

In a do-or-die ninth inning, the Grizzlies were able to add one more run, but failed to capitalize, cementing the score at 19-10 Washington.

Of the four pitchers who took the mound for Washington, starting pitcher Frank Trimarco got the win tonight. Trimarco pitched for five innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and fanned seven batters. Gateway’s starter Dakota Smith gave up 10 runs during his 1.1 innings of work, and took the loss.

The Wild Things and Grizzlies face off again tomorrow at 12:35 ET for the second game of the series.

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