Miners Offense Torches Bucs
June 30, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An explosive second inning fueled the Mat-Su Miners in a rain-soaked road victory over the Anchorage Bucs at Mulcahy Stadium on Wednesday.
After five innings of play in the rain, the game was officially declared a 12-3 win for the Miners due to weather conditions.
"It was just another day at the ballpark for us," Miners head coach Ben Taylor said.
The Miners have now scored 33 runs against the Bucs in the four matchups between the two programs.
"I feel really good about our offense," Taylor said. "These guys put the work in and they are really committed to their craft and I respect what they do. It was a good night to be a Miner."
The Miners (9-6) kicked off the game with five hits and capitalized on two Anchorage errors in the top half of the second inning to take a seven-run lead. First baseman Jake Scudder knocked a two-run double to left field, while leftfielder Madison Nickens, second baseman Levi Jordan and rightfielder Garrison Schwartz all added RBI singles.
Mat-Su starting pitcher Connor Higgins went the distance for the Miners in the rain-shortened affair, holding the Bucs to three runs on six hits in five innings of work.
"It was mostly my slider working well today," Higgins said. "I was also getting ahead with the fastball, which was key all game."
The left-hander walked two batters and recorded four strikeouts.
"Higgins pounded the strike zone all night," Taylor said. "He threw strike one and put himself in a position where he could throw his secondary pitches for strikes."
The Bucs (8-9) were forced to turn to the bullpen early, after starting pitcher Will Neely allowed seven runs on five hits in the first three innings of play.
Anchorage reliever Zach Ferntheil struggled in the top of the fourth inning, walking Mat-Su designated hitter Josh Rolette with the bases loaded and delivering a wild pitch to plate two more runs for the Miners.
Kody Reynolds put the Bucs on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot over the left field fence to cut the deficit to 9-1.
Centerfielder Brooks Stotler responded for Mat-Su with a bases-clearing double to score three more runs, giving the Miners a 12-1 advantage.
The Bucs scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles from Alan Trejo and Steven Sensley. After a short deliberation at the conclusion of the inning, the umpiring crew called the game and awarded the Miners the victory.
"It was getting a bit slippery out there, but it wasn't a big deal," Higgins said.
The Miners return to Mulcahy Stadium on Friday for a 7 p.m. start time against the Bucs.
"It's a good win for us because we even up the series at 2-2," Higgins said. "It's good to keep moving forward, and now we've got three more in a row with them."
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Alaska Baseball League Stories from June 30, 2016
- Miners Offense Torches Bucs - Mat-Su Miners
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