SAUGET, Ill. ? The Citadel’s Sonny Meade became the fifth Bulldog to enter the professional ranks in 2009 as he signed a free agent contract with the Gateway Grizzlies of the Frontier League. Meade has joined the Grizzlies, a team based out of Sauget, Ill.

The Frontier League is an independent league in the Midwest. Meade went 1-for-4 in his professional debut as the Grizzlies faced the Evansville Otters.

Meade found a familiar face in the opposing dugout in his professional debut as former Citadel pitcher Justin Smith is playing for the Otters. Smith has an 0-1 record and a 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched for Evansville.

Meade, an all-Southern Conference pick from Stratford High School, batted .397 with five home runs and 67 RBIs for the Bulldogs in 2009 and during his four-year collegiate career he led The Citadel to two Southern Conference Tournament Championship games.