Miners Swept by CornBelters
August 18, 2017 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION, ILL. (AUGUST 17, 2017) - The Southern Illinois Miners had a 5-2 lead after six innings against the Normal CornBelters in the finale of their road series, but could not hold it, allowing two runs in the seventh, one in the eighth and one in the ninth, losing 6-5 on a walk-off solo home run by Jesus Solorzano to complete a three-game sweep.
After the CornBelters scored a run for a 1-0 lead in the second inning, COREY SESSIONS stranded the bases loaded that frame, and the Miners' offense got going in the very next half inning, batting around and scoring four runs on an RBI double by BEN MOORE, a fielder's choice with an RBI by RYAN SLUDER, and two two-out singles by RYAN LASHLEY and CRAIG MASSONI to make it a 4-1 game against Normal starter Edgar De La Rosa.
Normal responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Torres to make it 4-2, but Sessions again minimized damage and kept Southern Illinois in front. He would permit just the two runs in five and two-thirds innings, allowing eight hits and three walks, but stranding eight runners on base in total. Southern Illinois then added an insurance run in the top of the sixth on an RBI double by ANTHONY CRITELLI to make it 5-2.
Unfortunately, the bullpen could not hold the lead, as with two runners on and two outs, Justin Fletcher doubled inside third base into left field against KYLE GRANA to bring Normal within a run at 5-4. After getting out of that inning still on top by a run, Normal loaded the bases on walks by KYLE TINIUS and JOHN WERNER with one out, with Aaron Dudley's sacrifice fly tying the game at 5-5. Werner was also able to minimize damage in the eighth to keep it tied going into the ninth, but leading off the ninth against TRE HOBBS (1-1), Solorzano struck a home run over the wall in right-center field to send the Miners to their fourth-straight loss.
Southern Illinois had 11 hits in the contest, including two-hit games by Lashley, Moore, NOLAN EARLEY and BRETT WILEY, with five different players recording one RBI in the game, but it was not enough as the Miners dropped all three games to the CornBelters in the series.
The Miners next return home for a weekend series against the Florence Freedom beginning on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. CHRIS WASHINGTON will pitch in the series opener against Florence's Tony Vocca.
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.
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Frontier League Stories from August 18, 2017
- Otters Outlast Rain, Beat Freedom in Series Finale - Evansville Otters
- Miners Swept by CornBelters - Southern Illinois Miners
- CornBelters Walk off on Solorzano Homer to Complete Comeback Win - Normal CornBelters
- Boomers Power Past Washington - Schaumburg Boomers
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