Bats Stifled as Miners Drop Doubleheader to Florence
July 28, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners held the Florence Freedom to five total hits in their doubleheader on Saturday at Rent One Park, but despite two outstanding starts from Michael Starcevich and Patrick Duester, their offense could not get going in two one-run losses by final scores of 2-1 and 1-0.
Starcevich got things started in game one, his first as a pro, and the rookie turned in five shutout innings with no walks and six strikeouts to set a career-high. Southern Illinois gave him a 1-0 lead on a two-out RBI single by Jake Willsey in the third inning, but could not hold it, as a leadoff hit batter in the sixth led to the tying run scoring on a sacrifice fly by Jimmy Heck, making the score 1-1.
In the seventh inning, the Freedom jumped on top when Skylar Ewing hit a solo home run off of John Werner (1-1) for a 2-1 lead, which ended up standing as the final score in game one.
In game two, Duester took the baton from Starcevich and also tossed five shutout innings, holding the Freedom to two hits and one walk over his first professional start. The Miners, however, were held to just one hit by rookie left-hander Mike Castellani (1-0), and the Freedom scored the only run of the game without the aid of a hit in the top of the seventh inning. A pair of walks by Kyle Tinius and one by Zach Hartman loaded the bases with one out, and Jacob Wark's sacrifice fly made it 1-0 with Jordan Brower scoring just ahead of a throw from left fielder Luke Bonfield.
Castellani completed the shutout in the bottom half of the seventh, sending the Miners to the doubleheader sweep at home. The Miners will look to salvage a series split on Sunday night at 5:05 p.m., with Steven Ridings on the hill against Florence right-hander Cody Gray.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's winningest franchise since debuting in 2007, winning the 2012 Frontier League Championship as well as division titles in 2010, 2014, 2015 and 2016. 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 their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.siminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from July 28, 2018
- Grizzlies Bats Hibernate, Belters Take over 1st Place - Normal CornBelters
- Bats Stifled as Miners Drop Doubleheader to Florence - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Fall to Otters in Game 2 - River City Rascals
- Grizzlies Bats Quiet in Defeat - Gateway Grizzlies
- Offensive Explosion Helps Clinch Series Win - Washington Wild Things
- Otters Even Series with Rascals in a One-Run Victory - Evansville Otters
- Early Runs Doom Beach Bums against Washington - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Joliet Offense Ignites in Game 2 vs Schaumburg - Joliet Slammers
- Five-Run Third Drops Boomers - Schaumburg Boomers
- Thunderbolts zap Crushers - Lake Erie Crushers
- ThunderBolts Bounce Back, Beat Lake Erie - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Florence Falls to Miners in Extras - Florence Y'alls
- Offense Surges to Take Series Opener over Gateway - Normal CornBelters
- Miners Walk off over Freedom for Fourth Straight Win - Southern Illinois Miners
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
