Walters Hits Walk-Off Double as Miners Even Series
June 26, 2021 - Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners beat the Evansville Otters on a walk-off double to right-center field by rookie third baseman Ian Walters, securing a 3-2 victory in the bottom of the ninth inning and evening the weekend series at one game apiece at Rent One Park in Marion.
The Miners got on the board right away in the bottom of the first against Ryan O'Reilly, who was making his pro debut for the Otters. A lead-off error allowed Craig Massey to reach base, and Yeltsin Gudino singled before a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third base. Gianfranco Wawoe brought in the game's first run on a ground ball to the shortstop, and Nolan Earley followed on the next pitch with an RBI single to center field, doubling the Miners' lead to 2-0.
Gunnar Kines would make the lead stand up until the fourth, when after a Riley Krane lead-off single, Elijah MacNamee homered down the left field line to tie the game up at 2-2. Kines then hit Bryce Denton with a pitch, putting the lead run on base, but would buckle down and get the next three Otters hitters, then worked scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth innings for a "quality start," striking out six and keeping the Miners in the game.
Southern Illinois' offense would be unable to muster a run in the middle innings as a trio of Otters pitchers held the Miners without a base runner from the fourth until the eighth inning. Meanwhile, Evansville got the leadoff man on base and into scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but stranded that runner at third base both times thanks to the relief pitching of Ryan Miller and Joey Pulido (1-1), setting the Miners up for the bottom of the ninth against Taylor Wright (0-1).
Earley led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second base by Jared Mang, bringing Walters to the plate, who crushed his RBI double off the right-center field wall to score Earley and win the game for the Miners.
Southern Illinois will now go for the series win in a rubber game against Evansville on Sunday evening at 5:05 p.m. Trent Johnson will pitch for the Miners against the Otters' Tim Holdgrafer in the final game of the home stand at Rent One Park.
The Southern Illinois Miners are the Frontier League's most-successful 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. In addition, they have sent 60 players to MLB organizations in their 14 years of operation. For ticket information, contact the box office at (618) 998-8499. For additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
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