FL Southern Illinois Miners

Earley Sends Miners to Ninth Straight Win in Extras

Published on July 1, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release


Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners trailed early in the game on Thursday night against the Schaumburg Boomers at Rent One Park, but came back to tie the score in the middle frames and later win it on a walk-off single in the 11th by Nolan Earley, sweeping the series with a 6-5 victory as they won their ninth game in a row and 20th in their last 23 overall.

Schaumburg scored all their runs in the first three innings against Jarett Miller, two of which coming in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead, but Southern Illinois would get one back as Shane Kennedy singled, stole second and came home on an RBI single by Craig Massey to make it 2-1. The Boomers would then score two more on a two-run homer by Ino Patron in the second, but the Miners again rallied, this time to tie the game. After back-to-back singles by Steve Marino and Vin Guglietti, Francisco Rosario tripled them both home to make it 4-3. Aaron Gates brought Rosario home on a groundout, and the score was tied 4-4.

That would not last long, either, as Schaumburg's Paul Kronenfeld hit a solo homer to break the tie in the third, giving the Boomers the lead back. They would hold that lead until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Earley tied the score with a sacrifice fly after the Miners loaded the bases with one out. With the score 5-5, both teams would have several chances to take the lead- in the sixth and the seventh, the Miners put runners at first and third with only one out, but a double-play in the sixth and a popout and strikeout in the seventh thwarted Southern Illinois' best attempts to take the lead.

Schaumburg would also have chances, but the Miners held the fort thanks to great defense. After failing to score with a man at second in the ninth inning, Schaumburg's Zack Weigel doubled to lead off the tenth and went to third on a ground ball to second base. Mark Nelson then hit a high-bouncer back to the pitcher that Evan Mott snared for out number two, and Kenny Towns hit a ground ball towards left that Rosario made an incredible play on for the final out to send it to the 11th. After the Miners retired the Boomers without a run in the 11th with the International Tiebreaker in effect, they would load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the frame when, on a 3-2 pitch, Earley singled up the middle to win the game and sweep the series and the homestand.

The Miners next embark on a seven-game road trip beginning on Friday night at 6:05 p.m. against the Traverse City Beach Bums. Dyllon Nuernberg will start on the mound for Southern Illinois in the series opener.

The Southern Illinois Miners are the back-to-back 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 July 1, 2016


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