Miners' Win Streak Snapped in Loss to Freedom
June 6, 2018 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Florence, KY - The Southern Illinois Miners cut a late four-run deficit in half with a pair of runs in the seventh inning, but could not get closer after falling behind early on Wednesday night against the Florence Freedom at UC Health Stadium, dropping the contest by a score of 7-3 to halt their five-game winning streak.
Southern Illinois committed three errors defensively in the game, two of which came in the first inning as the Freedom scored an unearned run against starter Robby Rowland to make it 1-0. The home team then added three more runs in the bottom of the second to push their advantage to 4-0 on RBI hits by Jacob Wark and Connor Crane.
Meanwhile, the Miners offense could not break through against former Miner Steve Hagen (3-1) until the top of the fifth, when after Kurt Wertz, Jr. doubled and Luis Jean singled, a throwing error advanced them to second and third base before Marc DiLeo's RBI groundout put Southern Illinois on the board at 4-1.
Florence got that run back in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI hit by Craig LePre off of Rowland (4-1) to make the score 5-1 before the Miners rallied in the seventh. Nolan Earley opened up with a walk, and Romeo Cortina doubled before Wertz singled in a run to make it 5-2. Jean then also singled to make it a 5-3 ballgame and chase Hagen, but the Miners would strand the tying runs in scoring position that inning. Florence then tacked on two more in the bottom of the eighth against Patrick Duester, aided by the third Southern Illinois error, for the final 7-3 margin.
Wertz and Jean each had two hits in the game, with the former going 2-for-3 with a double, run scored and RBI, as the Miners saw the road series evened up at one game apiece. They will look to get back on the winning track in the rubber match of the series on Thursday night at 5:35 p.m. Billy Griffin draws the starting assignment for the Miners, while Florence will pitch right-hander Jordan Kraus.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's winningest 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. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.siminers.com.
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