The Southern Illinois Miners came back from a 4-0 deficit with one big inning, scoring eight runs in the top of the seventh and adding two more in the eighth in a 10-8 win over the Normal CornBelters at The Corn Crib in Normal.

In the first inning, Aaron Dudley’s three-run home run gave Normal a 3-0 lead, but Ethan Gibbons would settle down in the subsequent innings, permitting no runs until the sixth while striking out a career-best eight batters. An RBI single by Justin Fletcher with two outs in the sixth chased Gibbons from the game, but Kyle Tinius (2-0) struck out Ty Morris looking to strand two more runners on base as the game moved to the seventh inning.

Miners 1B Justin Chigbogu at the plate in last night’s win at Normal.

Southern Illinois, which had been held to no runs on two hits by CornBelters starter Julio Vivas, began the comeback with three straight singles by Justin Chigbogu, Billy Germaine and Joel McKeithan, with the latter’s RBI hit getting the Miners on the board and making it 4-1. London Lindley followed by reaching base thanks to an error by Dudley on a sacrifice bunt, allowing Germaine to score and make it 4-2, chasing Vivas from the contest. Craig Massey then tied the score at 4-4 by lining a two-run triple to left-center field off reliever Brandon Maddern (0-1). A Nolan Earley sacrifice fly brought Massey home and gave the Miners a 5-4 lead.

But the visitors weren’t done. After Christopher Long recorded the second out of the inning, Marc Flores and Ben Moore each singled, setting up Chigbogu, who blasted a deep three-run homer to right field to cap off the eight-run outburst.

In the eighth, an RBI double by Earley and an RBI fielder’s choice by Ryan Lashley, with Massey avoiding the tag of the catcher at home plate on the latter, made the score 10-5. Normal rallied for a run in the eighth on an RBI groundout by Miguel Torres and then got three more runs in the ninth on another three-run homer by Dudley, but it was not enough as the Miners snapped a four-game slide while also ending the CornBelters’ six-game win streak.

Chigbogu finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs while Massey and Earley finished with two RBIs apiece. Lindley ended the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored as well, with eight of the nine batters in the Southern Illinois order getting at least one hit and seven of the nine scoring at least one run.

The Miners will look for back-to-back victories on Saturday in the second game of the series at The Corn Crib at 6:35 p.m. Payton Lobdell will pitch for the Miners against Normal’s Charlie Gillies.

The Southern Illinois Miners dropped a 7-1 decision at Rent One Park on Wednesday night to the Florence Freedom, with the visitors winning the first two games of the midweek set.

Florence scored a run in the top of the first on a bases-loaded walk by Collins Cuthrell for a 1-0 lead, but stranded the bases loaded in that inning. The Miners responded in the bottom of the frame when Craig Massey led off with a single and Nolan Earley followed with another hit off Florence starter Tony Vocca (3-1). On a wild pitch, Massey advanced to third, but Earley was put out trying to take second base. Ryan Lashley and Justin Chigbogu walked to load the bases for Billy Germaine, who hit a fly ball to center field that brought home Massey and knotted the score at 1-1.

Miners Hurler Elvin Liriano comes in and pitches 2/3 of an inning to stop the Freedom’s rally. (Southern Illinois Miners photo)

But the Freedom scored twice more off Jared Messer (0-2) in the second inning and added a run in the third inning for a 4-1 cushion. Florence kept up the offensive pressure by putting runners on base in every inning except the ninth, with Miners’ pitching keeping the game close in the earlier frames thanks to repeatedly getting out of the jams with men on base. The Freedom stranded 16 batters in the game, ten of which in the first four innings, but also added to their lead with one run in the fifth inning, two in the seventh and one in the eighth for the final margin.

Southern Illinois had opportunities to score in the fourth, when Chigbogu worked a leadoff walk and Germaine reached on a fielder’s choice and error, and in the seventh when the Miners had the bases loaded with one out, but could not push across a run either time. Massey tied his season-high with four hits in the contest, going 4-for-5 at the top of the order, but it was not enough as the Miners lost their third straight game.

The Miners will try and get back on the winning track in the series finale against the Freedom on Thursday night at 7:05 p.m.

BOX SCORE

FLORENCE FREEDOM

2B: J.Brizuela (2), C.Teykl (1). 3B: A.Godbold (2). HP: D.Fraga (1), A.Mercurio (3). RBI: D.Fraga 2 (9), A.Godbold 3 (18), J.Brizuela 2 (15), C.Cuthrell (7). SF: A.Godbold (2). CS: J.Brower (2).
SB: A.Godbold (4), A.Mercurio (8).
Team LOB: 16.

#	PITCHER	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
33	Vocca, T	6.0	5	1	1	3	5	3.47
35	Terrones, M	1.0	2	0	0	1	0	0.00
34	Doerr, K	1.0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00
1	McGrath, P	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	10.13
		9	7	1	1	4	6

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS

RBI: B.Germaine (7).
SF: B.Germaine (1).
CS: N.Earley (2).
Team LOB: 9.

#	PITCHER	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	ERA
33	Messer, J	2.2	5	4	4	4	1	7.50
40	Tinius, K	2.2	5	1	1	2	0	2.13
1	Palacios, N	1.2	3	2	2	1	1	5.79
12	DeBoo, C	0.1	0	1	1	2	0	8.31
22	Liriano, E	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	4.15
28	Werner, J	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0.00
		9	13	8	8	9	4

Lake Level 409.28′ Water Temperature 72 degrees

LARGEMOUTH BASS – Good Minnows spinner baits, worms, and black and blue jigs. Reports of fish being caught around Jackie Branch, Sandusky Cove, and below the dam. Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. Fish around bridges and along the rocks 14” minimum length limit, 6 daily creel limit. 1 fish daily creel limit in PONDS 14” minimum length.

CRAPPIE – Excellent Meal worms. Small & medium minnows. Quarter-ounce pink and white tub jigs. Shallow water! Fish attractors! From shore, fish near structures, hot spots are Jackie Branch, Sandusky, Sailboat Harbor, Marcum coves, and Ina Boat Ramp. Try the Jackie Branch Breakwater and along Mine 21 Road. Fish the main lake drop off areas. 25 fish daily creel limit with no more than 10 fish 10 inches or longer

BLUEGILL – Good Small jigs, worms, meal worms, wax worms, crickets. From shore try Sailboat Harbor and Mine 21 Road. Try fishing shallow with crickets, worms or small jigs. Fish in the back of necks and on flat shallow banks and on the rocks. 10 fish daily creel limit in PONDS.

CHANNEL CATFISH – Excellent Large minnows, leeches, Hoss’s Hawg Bait, night crawlers, and Sonny’s stink bait. Try leeches in moving water. Drift fish the flats. Set line 3-4’ from the shore over rocks. Try the Waltonville Dam, Turnip Patch, Jackie Branch, and North Sandusky Day Use Area. 6 fish daily creel limit in PONDS. Jugs must be attended at all times while fishing.

WHITE BASS – Fair In-line spinners, jig and curly tail grubs. Reports of fish being caught around the 154 bridges. Fish around along the rocks and drop-offs Fish in shallow bays near brush cover and bushes. 20 fish creel limit. No more than 3 fish 17” or longer daily