Miners Drop Opener at Florence in Extras
May 29, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners jumped in front against the Florence Y'Alls on Saturday night at Y'Alls Ballpark in Florence, but could not hold the lead, as the home team came back before a walk-off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning by Chad Sedio handed the Miners a 5-4 loss, their first of 2021.
Reigning Frontier League Pitcher of the Year Chase Cunningham got the start for the Miners on the mound, and he and Florence starter Christian Tripp put up scoreless frames for the first three innings. That changed in the top of the fourth, as Luke Mangieri came up with two runners on base against Tripp and hit a towering, three-run homer to right field to put Southern Illinois up 3-0.
Florence got two runs right back in the bottom half on a two-out home run by Harrison DiNicola, but the Miners kept the lead at 3-2 into the middle frames. Against reliever Yoshi Hamazaki in the sixth inning, Gianfranco Wawoe and Mangieri connected on back-to-back singles before Jarrod Watkins drove Wawoe home with another sharp single off DiNicola's glove at second base, making the score 4-2.
But again, Florence got two runs back in the bottom half, this time tying the game on Trevor Craport's two-run shot to left field, making the score 4-4. It would remain tied heading into the ninth inning thanks to stout relief pitching on both sides, with Jose Fuentes tossing two scoreless innings for Southern Illinois.
Florence threatened to walk it off in the ninth inning, loading the bases with one out, but Kyle Hinton (0-1) got pinch-hitter Jose Brizuela to ground into an inning-ending double play to send the game to extras. With the International Tiebreaker in effect in the tenth, the Miners failed to score the automatic runner, and in the bottom half, Sedio came up with runners at the corners and one out, and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Brizuela and end the game.
Mangieri finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs, while Wawoe reached base three times and scored two runs for the Miners to lead the offense, but it was not enough as the Miners dropped their first game of the 2021 season. They will look to bounce back and even the series on Sunday, May 30, at 4:30 pm CDT. Justin Ferrell will start for the Miners against Florence's Jonaiker Villalobos.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's most-successful 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. In addition, they have sent 59 players to MLB organizations in their 13 years of operation. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
Frontier League Stories from May 29, 2021
- Miners Drop Opener at Florence in Extras - Southern Illinois Miners
- Crushers pick up first win in 2021 - Lake Erie Crushers
- DiNicola, Craport and Sedio Lead Florence in Extra Inning Thriller - Florence Y'alls
- Wild Things Plate Two in Ninth, Not Enough for Comeback - Washington Wild Things
- Jackals Use Six-Run Sixth To Down Boulders - New York Boulders
- Boomers Shutout Gateway for First Win of 2021 - Schaumburg Boomers
- Y'alls Hand Washington Loss After Lengthy Rain Delay - Washington Wild Things
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