By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – The Normal CornBelters grabbed an early lead and maintained it to support a complete game one-hitter by Charlie Gillies in a 3-0 win over the Gateway Grizzles to clinch the series at the Corn Crib on Wednesday night.
The CornBelters struck in the bottom of the second. Dillon Haupt grabbed a leadoff single, followed by a single from Craig Lepre to put runners at the corners. A third consecutive single from R.J. Perucki scored Haupt and left two on base with no outs. Michael Skoller hit into a double play but it put a second run on the board, leaving the Belters up 2-0.
The Belters added some insurance to their lead in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff single from Santiago Chirino. A double off the center field wall put two in scoring position and elicited an intentional walk to Nolan Meadows to load the bases. Haupt singled to drive in Chirino and leave the bases loaded. The three runners were stranded but the Belters increased their lead to 3-0.
Gillies allowed just one hit, a third-inning triple by Cody Livesay, and walked three and struck out seven. The losing pitcher was Adam Eggnatz (3-1), throwing six and two-thirds innings with six hits, three walks, five strikeouts, and two earned runs.
The series finale is Thursday night at the Corn Crib at 6:35 p.m. Starting pitcher for the CornBelters will be Mike Schweiss, who is going up against Will Landsheft. The broadcast time on WJBC-AM 1230 and WJBC.com is 6:20 p.m.
