Miners split doubleheader with Boomers Southern Illinois rallies late for game one win, Boomers record shutout in nightcap
MARION - The Southern Illinois Miners split a doubleheader against the Schaumburg Boomers on Wednesday night at Rent One Park, winning 6-4 in game one before suffering a 2-0 loss in the second contest.
In game one, the Miners got on the board right away, as with two outs, newest Miner Ariel Sandoval grounded an RBI single into center field in his first Southern Illinois at-bat, making it 1-0. The Miners then plated two more runs in the bottom of the third inning on a Schaumburg throwing error and a bases-loaded double-play ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Ian Walters, making the score 3-0.
But the Miners' defense betrayed them in the top of the fourth, as two errors in the frame allowed Schaumburg to score three unearned runs off Trent Johnson to tie the game at 3-3. Blake Stelzer (3-0) came on and got a strikeout to strand the go-ahead runs in scoring position and end the threat in the inning, and would also toss scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth, setting up the winning rally for the Miners in the bottom half against Nate Thomas (0-1).
Southern Illinois loaded the bases in the frame thanks to two walks and a single, and Nolan Earley then drew another walk to force in the go-ahead run to make it 4-3 Miners. Two batters later, Walters drove in two more runs with a double into right field for a 6-4 lead. That turned out to be the winning hit, as the Boomers got one on an RBI single by Chase Dawson in the top of the seventh. But Joey Pulido was able to minimize the damage and record the save as the Miners took game one.
Game two was a pitcher's duel between Chase Cunningham and Ryan Middendorf. Cunningham (3-2) ended up pitching another "quality start," lasting six innings with just four hits allowed, one walk, and seven strikeouts. But two of the hits he surrendered were solo home runs by Matt McGarry and Alec Craig, and that was all Middendorf (6-3) needed, as he pitched five scoreless innings to earn the win, with the Miners unable to muster up a comeback in the split of the twin-bill.
The Miners will conclude their home stand in the series finale against the Boomers on Thursday, July 29, at 7:05 p.m. Michael Austin will pitch for the Miners against Schaumburg left-hander Bryan Ketchie in the rubber game of the three-game series.
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.