Miners Fall Short in Late Rally
June 18, 2012 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - Two nights in a row against the Normal CornBelters, the Miners got the bats going but it wasn't enough. The Miners lost to the CornBelters 5-4 after scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Miners starter Shawn Gilblair earned the loss (3-2) after pitching seven solid innings.
The CornBelters scored in the top of the first inning off Gilblair as CornBelters designated hitter Robert Brooks grounded out to bring in left fielder Alvaro Ramirez to give Normal a 1-0 lead. The Miners then took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning off CornBelters starter Tyler Lavigne with a one out double by catcher Sean Coughlin.
The CornBelters scored three runs off Shawn Gilblair in the top of the fifth inning and then another run in the top of the seventh to take a 5-2 lead. Gilblair gave up eight hits over seven innings, allowed five runs, walked one and struck out four. Ben Shivers pitched the eighth inning, walking two and striking out one. Albert Ayala pitched the ninth inning and struck out one CornBelter.
Despite being down 5-2, the Miners came fighting back. After CornBelters reliever Kyle DiMartino pitched a scoreless eighth inning, Marshall Schuler came in to pitch the ninth inning. Cannon Lester hit a lead off double off Schuler to set the tone in the inning. Sean Harrell reached first on an error by CornBelters second baseman Daniel Cayton, which allowed Lester to move to third. With runners on first and third and no one out, Sean Coughlin hit a base hit to bring in Lester, then advanced to second on a throw from the outfield. Harrell advanced to third base. Ken Gregory pinch hit for Darian Sandford and brought in Harrell with a base hit, which allowed Coughlin to move to third base. That would be it for Schuler, who left the game. CornBelters reliever Rich Mascheri came in relief and retired the next three Miners to end the game. The CornBelters won the game 5-4 and took the series.
With the loss, the Miners fall to 17-12 on the season and and fall to two games behind Traverse City who is in first place. The CornBelters improve to 10-17 on the season. The Miners and CornBelters wrap up the three game set tomorrow night at Rent One Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
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