Sauget, IL – River City had a chance to win their first road series of the season, but had that chance shattered by a walk-off single by newly acquired Chad Rothford in the bottom of the ninth to give the Gateway Grizzlies a 4-3 win Tuesday night.

Rothford was acquired on Saturday for third baseman Travis Fultz from the Kalamazoo Kings and finished the three game series with five RBI and a home run.

His biggest RBI came in the ninth off Rascals starter Scott Fogelson, who was left in for a chance to go nine innings. Until the ninth, Fogelson had allowed just one earned run as Gateway’s two runs scored in the fourth inning were both unearned.

With the Rascals up 3-1, the first three reached against Fogelson on two errors and a hit-by-pitch in that fourth inning. The left-hander was able to get Michael Campbell to ground into a run scoring double play for the first two outs, but then allowed Robbie Minor to tie the game with a single. For Campbell, it was the only time the Rascals retired the center fielder as he finished 4-5 and scored the game winning run.

River City scored all three of their runs in the second inning off Adam Revelette. Jeff Miller went deep for the third time in the series, a two run shot, and Luke Barganier doubled home Andrew Sweet.

Gateway’s bullpen came up big, tossing three shutout innings without allowing a base runner. Eric Ridener (1-2) picked up the win going two innings with four strikeouts. Fogelson (2-2) went 8.1 innings and allowed nine hits and four walks.

The Rascals (18-15) will travel back home to take on the Windy City Thunderbolts for three starting Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The series will at least pit the two top teams in the Frontier League West against each and it could be a series starting with the two teams tied for the division lead if Windy City defeats the Rockford RiverHawks in game three of their series. For tickets call the Rascals at (636) 240-BATS.