Miners Lose in Extras to Lake Erie
June 5, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners went to extra innings for the fifth time in their first nine games this year on Saturday at Rent One Park, but took their fourth extra-frames loss of the season in dropping a 5-4 decision to the Lake Erie Crushers.
After retiring Steve Marino's number 14 in a pregame ceremony, it was Lake Erie that struck first against Chase Cunningham in the second inning, with Trevor Achenbach coming home on a wild pitch after he had reached on a walk and went to second on an error. Cunningham then settled in and pitched seven strong innings, allowing just one additional run and three total hits, leaving in line for the win.
The Miners would respond by taking the lead on a two-out, two-run double off the bat of rookie Ian Walters in the top of the fourth. After Lake Erie scratched across the tying run in the sixth inning, it was Walters who parked an automatic double in the right-center field gap to put Southern Illinois back in front in the bottom half against Lake Erie starter Paul Hall, Jr., with Nick Neville following two batters later with a sacrifice fly to extend the Miners' lead to 4-2.
But in the eighth, Zac Westcott entered in relief of Cunningham, and Lake Erie scored two runs in the frame on an RBI triple by Bryan De La Rosa and a sacrifice fly by Brody Wofford, tying the score again at 4-4. Kyle Hinton (0-3)worked around a leadoff double for a scoreless ninth, and after Neville missed a game-winning homer in the bottom half by inches, the game went to a tenth inning. Connor Oliver's RBI triple then made it 5-4 Lake Erie, sending the game to the bottom half against rookie left-hander Paul Perez (1-0).
Southern Illinois got the tying run to third base in the frame, and the winning run at first base on Walters' walk with two outs. Jared Mang then drove a ball to the left field corner that also missed being a game-winning home run by inches before he grounded out to second base to end the game.
Southern Illinois and Lake Erie will now play a rubber game to conclude the series on Sunday, June 6, at 5:05 p.m. Tyler Brown will make the start for Southern Illinois.
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.
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