Miners Eliminated by Rascals in Close Game Four
September 10, 2016 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners came back from a 2-0 deficit in the fourth inning to tie the game in Game Four of the Division Series against the River City Rascals, but saw the visitors take the lead in the next half inning and then hold it in a 3-2 loss on Saturday night at Rent One Park, ending the Miners' season.
After three straight scoreless innings, the Rascals got on the board in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Kyle Gaedele reached on an infield single that ricocheted off of Jarett Miller. The Southern Illinois starter remained in the contest, but Jason Merjano would homer in the next at-bat to give River City a 2-0 lead. The Rascals would then load the bases, but Brooks Trujillo induced a groundout to keep the game 2-0.
Southern Illinois then rallied to tie the score in the bottom half of the fourth against Dan Ludwig, as Aaron Gates and Nolan Earley reached on walks before Alex De Leon's single loaded the sacs for Craig Massey. He was hit by a pitch to force in the first run, and Steve Marino followed with a game-tying single to left field, knotting the game at 2-2 after four frames.
But River City would answer with the eventual winning run in the top of the fifth, as Johnny Morales walked and went from first to third on a throwing error by Trujillo (0-1) on a pickoff move before Josh Ludy singled him in for a 3-2 lead. Kyle Tinius was summoned from the bullpen, and the rookie would work three scoreless innings to keep the game a one-run affair, and Chris DeBoo and Evan Mott also would work scoreless innings in the eighth and ninth.
In the meantime, the Miners would get the tying run on base in each of the last five innings of the game, but fail to score. They had their best chance in the bottom of the seventh, when Kurt Wertz, Jr. led off with a walk to chase Ludwig from the game. Brandon Cummins then stepped up as a pinch hitter and appeared to sock a game-tying, RBI triple to right-center field, but it was ruled that Wertz did not touch second on his way around the bases, nullifying the tying run. A fielder's choice and a strikeout would end the frame.
In the ninth, Wertz would triple to right-center field with one out to put the tying run at third base, but a strikeout and a groundout would end the frame and the Miners' 2016 season.
Frontier League Stories from September 10, 2016
- Rascals Advance to Frontier League Championship Series - River City Rascals
- Miners Eliminated by Rascals in Close Game Four - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Drop Game Three and Remain One Win Short of Series Win - River City Rascals
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