Miners Win on Walk Off
Published on August 21, 2009 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
MARION Ill. - Brad Miller gave the Miners their third straight walk-off victory with a single in the ninth inning, as Southern Illinois defeated Midwest 5-4 on Friday night at Rent One Park.
Andrew Sweet led-off the ninth inning with a single to right field, and Brad Goldsmith was called upon to pinch-run. The next two batters, Will Block and Jereme Milons followed with perfectly placed bunt singles to load the bases. Goldsmith then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 4-4. After the Sliders intentionally walked Stephen Holdren, Brad Miller came to the plate with the base loaded and hit a deep fly ball to right-centerfield that neither Zach Pace nor Clay McCord could reach. Will Block scored easily to give the Miners their fifth win in a row.
The Sliders took a 4-3 lead in the ninth when Zach Pace and Joash Brodin both doubled off of Jake McMurran.
Steve Spurgeon was impressive in just his second start in a Miners uniform. He lasted 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on just five hits. Spurgeon kept the ball around the plate, walking two and striking out six. He found himself in trouble early. In the top of the first inning, Spurgeon served up a two-run home run to Sliders third baseman Robbie Knapp. That made it 2-0 Midwest. He allowed a single run in the third inning when Jonnie Knoble tripled and scored on a fielder's choice, tying the game at 3-3.
The Miners scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning when Joey Metropoulos' single scored Jereme Milons and Tony Roth to tie the score at 2-2. Brad Miller's sacrifice fly in the third inning put Southern Illinois up 3-2.
Southern Illinois will look to extend their season-best five-game winning streak Saturday in Game 2 of the series against Midwest. The Sliders will send righty Scott Van Es (0-0, 2.08) to the hill, while the Miners counter with right-hander Danny Zeffiro (4-4, 5.38). Game time is scheduled for 7:05. It will be Jimmy Buffet Night at the ballpark featuring a post-game concert with a musical performance by Captain Josh. The Miners will also try to "white-out" the stadium as the first 5,000 fans will receive a white T-shirt courtesy of Heartland Regional Medical Center.
Frontier League Stories from August 21, 2009
- Kings Take Opener - Gateway Grizzlies
- Miners Win on Walk Off - Southern Illinois Miners
- Rascals Blast Three Homers In 6-2 Victory - River City Rascals
- Freedom Get a Win - Florence Y'alls
- Wild Things Swept in Double Header - Washington Wild Things
- Bolts sweep Wild Things - Windy City ThunderBolts
- RiverHawks Lose Again, 4-2 - Rockford RiverHawks
- Crushers Pull Away from Otters - Evansville Otters
- Rascals Beat Bums - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Home Sweet Home for Crushers - Lake Erie Crushers
- Kalamazoo Kings to Celebrate Manager's Birthday - Kalamazoo Kings
- Sliders Slip 12-9 - Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti
- Otters earn 12-9 victory - Evansville Otters
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