September 2, 2009 - SAUGET, Ill. – The Gateway Grizzlies scored three times in the first inning and went on to beat the Rockford RiverHawks, 9-3, on Wednesday.
Joseph Scaperotta broke a scoreless tie with a RBI double in the first inning and finished the night 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Nathan Lape and Alex Kerins homered off Rockford pitching for the second night in a row. Brandon Cohen homered for the RiverHawks.
In the first inning, Brandon Peters and Wilson Matos began the inning with singles. Scaperotta doubled to the corner in right field to drive in Peters. Matos scored on a groundout and Scaperotta crossed the plate on a wild pitch by Rockford starter Elliott Cribby. Lape led off the second inning with his third home run of the year.
Rockford never got closer than three runs away. Caleb Fields had RBI singles in the third and seventh innings. Cohen hit his seventh homer of the year in the eighth inning.
Gateway starter Mark Brackman (6-10) struck out nine and scattered five hits over seven innings for the win. Cribby (2-3) took the loss. He gave up seven runs on 11 hits over five innings in his first professional start.
The Northern League-bound RiverHawks play the Grizzlies for the final time at 6:05 p.m. Thursday.
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.
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