From the Southern Illinois Miners
FLORENCE- KY The Southern Illinois Miners made a huge late comeback on Saturday night, scoring six runs in the seventh inning and the final seven runs total in the contest to topple the Florence Freedom 11-8 at UC Health Stadium for their fourth win in a row and fifth in their last six overall, clinching the weekend road series.
Miners SS Craig Massey went 3-4 at the plate driving in three runs in last night’s 11-8 victory over Florence (SI Miners photo)
The Miners again on a leadoff double by Craig Massey and a sacrifice fly by Nolan Earley grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning against Freedom starter Jordan Kraus, but Florence would respond with four runs in their half of the frame, including two-out RBI doubles by Collins Cuthrell and Andrew Godbold to take a 4-1 lead. An unearned run in the second inning made the score 5-1, but the Miners would respond. Earley came up with two outs in the third and launched a solo home run, his second homer of the series, to make it a 5-2 game, and back-to-back RBI hits by Massey and Romeo Cortina got the Miners within a single tally at 5-4 in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom half, Florence loaded the bases with two outs, and Andre Mercurio got both runs back with a single that made it 7-4. Cuthrell then took the very next pitch deep to left-center field, but an incredible, home-run-robbing catch by Ryan Sluder kept the contest a three-run game. After a scoreless fifth inning, a leadoff walk issued by Tre Hobbs (1-0) to Daniel Fraga turned into a run on a subsequent single, fielder’s choice and groundout to make the score 8-4 after six innings. But the game would then take a huge turn in the Miners’ favor in the top of the seventh.
Against relief pitcher Mike Anthony (0-1), Southern Illinois mounted a big comeback. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out for Anthony Critelli, who also drew ball four to force in a run and make it 8-5. Sluder followed with an RBI single to slice the deficit to 8-6, and Anthony was removed for Jamal Wilson. Massey, with the bases still loaded, then struck the biggest blow of the game, smacking a triple down the left field line that cleared the bases and vaulted the Miners in front 9-8. Cortina’s sacrifice fly brought home Massey for a 10-8 lead to complete the six-run frame, and in the next inning, Brett Wiley homered to right-center to make the score 11-8.
The Southern Illinois bullpen shut the Freedom down from there, with Paul Young and John Werner, who worked the ninth for his 16th save of the season, combining for eight strikeouts in three innings to clinch the series. Massey led the charge offensively by finishing a homer away from the cycle, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBIs. Cortina and Earley each had two RBIs as well, while Wiley went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one driven in. Hobbs recorded his first pro win in relief as the Miners tied their season-best with their fourth consecutive victory.
The Miners will go for a sweep on Sunday at 5:05 p.m., with Corey Sessions on the hill against Florence’s Braulio Torres-Perez.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the 2016 Frontier League West Division Champions, the 2014 and 2015 Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.