Sensley Launches Bucs Past Miners
Published on June 17, 2016 under Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
PALMER, Alaska - A seventh-inning grand slam from Anchorage righfielder Steven Sensley propelled the Bucs to an 11-8 victory over the Mat-Su Miners in a back and forth battle Thursday night.
The Miners (5-3) struck early in the matchup. Second baseman Levi Jordan capitalized on a wild pitch from Bucs starting pitcher Justin Mulvaney to put the Miners on the scoreboard in the first inning.
Two batters later, rightfielder Cam Montgomery singled to centerfield, scoring designated hitter Garrison Schwartz and giving the Miners a 2-0 advantage.
The Mat-Su offense would continue to produce runs in the second inning, as Schwartz doubled to left field with two outs to score centerfielder Brooks Stotler. Shortstop Josh Bissonette added a two-run single in the following at-bat to increase the team's lead to five runs.
The Bucs (4-4) responded with four runs in the fourth inning, as Bryant Harris and Aaron Arruda each contributed a double for Anchorage.
Miners third baseman A.J. Lee knocked an 0-1 pitch over the left field wall in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Miners lead to 6-4. The blast marked the team's fourth home run of the season and Lee's first of the Alaska Baseball League summer.
The Bucs added another run in the top of the sixth on a two-out RBI single from Sensley to cut the deficit to 6-5.
Anchorage threatened again in the following inning, and Kody Reynolds delivered with a two-run, bases-loaded single. After a walk loaded the bases again, Sensley launched a grand slam over the scoreboard in right field to give the Bucs an 11-6 advantage.
The Miners chipped away at the lead in the seventh inning, as Rolette's RBI groundout scored Bisonnette to cut the deficit to 11-7. But the team's efforts in the final two innings would not be enough, as the Bucs took away an 11-8 victory.
Miners starting pitcher Connor Higgins provided the team with 4.2 innings on the mound. The freshman allowed four earned runs on six hits and walked five batters.
Carlos Vega and Gage O'Brien combined for 2.1 innings in relief. Vega gave up one hit and one run in 1.1 innings, while O'Brien was tagged with the loss after allowing six earned runs in one inning of work.
The loss drops the Miners into a tie for first place in the Alaska Baseball League standings with the Peninsula Oilers (4-2), while the Bucs reach .500 with a 4-4 record.
The Miners travel to Anchorage on Saturday to face the Glacier Pilots in a 10 p.m. meeting at Mulcahy Stadium.
Alaska Baseball League Stories from June 17, 2016
- Sensley Launches Bucs Past Miners - Mat-Su Miners
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