Miners Snuff Crushers Late to Even Series
Published on June 4, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners got another brilliant start from rookie left-hander Dan Ludwig and scored both of their runs in the fifth inning, with the bullpen of Evan Mott and Jake Cose working out of jams in the eighth and ninth to secure a 2-1 win over the Lake Erie Crushers at Rent One Park on Saturday night, evening up the series at one game apiece.
The game was scoreless heading into the fourth when the Crushers again scored first. This time, Jose Barraza launched a Ludwig pitch into the Miners bullpen for a solo home run and a 1-0 Lake Erie lead. That would be one of just four hits Ludwig would surrender in the game, however, and in the fifth, the Miners offense went to work against Colin Feldtman.
Aaron Gates started things with a single and moved to second on a groundout. Craig Massey then lined a triple past the first baseman down the right field line to score Gates easily and tie the game. Feldtman (0-2) departed in favor of a reliever, and on the first pitch he saw, rookie infielder Johnny Cole hit a ground ball to Max Casper at second base, scoring Massey and giving the Miners a 2-1 advantage.
That would be all the home team needed as Ludwig (2-0) cruised through the Lake Erie order until the seventh, when Brendan Costantino doubled with one out. The Miners went to the bullpen, bringing in Mott, and after a batter reached on a throwing error following a strikeout and a walk loaded the bases, the righty induced a popout for the second out before striking out Carlos Avila to strand three on the bags and preserve the 2-1 lead.
In the ninth, Cose came on for the save and after striking out Barraza, Parks Jordan reached on an infield hit. Cose then struck out Juan Avila and walked the next two to load the bases with two outs. But the right-hander would strike out pinch hitter Daniel Aldrich to end the game, and earn his second save in as many tries.
Massey finished 3-for-4 in the game while Gates and Francisco Rosario had two hits apiece for the Miners, with Ludwig tossing seven and one-third innings of one-run ball, walking none and striking out four to earn the win and improve the Miners to 10-9 on the season. They will go for the series win in a rubber match on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m., with Rick Teasley making the start for Southern Illinois.
Frontier League Stories from June 4, 2016
- Grizzlies Offense Comes up Short against Slammers - Gateway Grizzlies
- Southern Illinois wins over Lake Erie - Lake Erie Crushers
- Washington's Rally Not Enough - Washington Wild Things
- CornBelters Strike Early to Defeat ThunderBolts - Normal CornBelters
- Beach Bums Flip the Script on Florence - Florence Y'alls
- Miners Snuff Crushers Late to Even Series - Southern Illinois Miners
- Thomasson Powers Offense in Bums Win - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Slammers Take Second Straight over Grizzlies - Joliet Slammers
- Normal Uses Long Ball to Knock off ThunderBolts - Windy City ThunderBolts
- Boomers Lose Pitchers Duel - Schaumburg Boomers
- All Hands On Deck - Lake Erie Crushers
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