SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Miners set a program record for the most home runs in a single game with eight in today's loss to the Prairie Stars. Fifteen mile per hour winds pushing from infield to outfield had more than a little effect on the game, as the teams combined for 48 hits and 15 homeruns.
In the first inning, singles by
Sam Monroe (Moline, Ill./Moline) and
Garrett Weiner (Alton, IL/Marquette) set up a three-run homerun for
Kenneth Sugi (North Vancouver, BC/Carson Graham Secondary).
Nick Krodinger (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) would get a single three at bats later, but would be left stranded, leaving the Miners up 3-0 after the top of the first.
Dylan Mollett (St. Louis, MO/Oakville) took care of the bottom of the first inning in three batters with three fly outs.
Tommy Ruether (Washington, MO/Washington) opened the top of the second inning with a solo homerun, extending the Miners' lead to four. They did not stop there though, with a single by Sugi bringing home
Carter Bither (Springfield, MO/Springfield Catholic) and leading to a two-run homer for
Matt Souza (Escondido, CA/Christian) as the Miners piled onto their lead, going up 7-0.
A walk and a single by the Prairie Stars set them up to score their first run of the game in the bottom of the second. Mollett would strike out the next pitcher before closing out the inning two batters later. In the top of the third, the Miners started off with a solo home run again, this time by
Logan Alexander (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest). Two at bats later, with Bither on second base, Monroe singled to center field to bring Bither home. Two more singles in the inning would bring Monroe home too before a double play ended the half inning with S&T up 10-1.
The Prairie Stars would not score in the bottom of the third, allowing the Miners to extend their lead to 12-1 in the top of the fourth off a two-run homer by
Logan Alexander (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest). UIS would have find their first real success of the game in the bottom of the fourth though, getting a three-run and two-run homerun off Mollett to cut the Miners lead down to six. Weiner would add another run to start the next inning with a solo homerun, followed by a double by Sugi. The next three batters would strikeout though, sending the game to the bottom of the fifth.
Mollett would give up a three-run homerun to the fourth batter of the fifth inning, making it 13-9 and leading to
Elijah Gross (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit West) taking over. Gross would only last three batters though, giving up a run on a single and a double before being replaced by
Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame). Schisler would give up a three-run homerun to the first batter, making it a tie game. The Prairie Stars would hit a solo homerun to take the lead before Schisler got a strikeout to end the inning.
S&T would score two in the top of the sixth off a bases loaded HBP and a fielder's choice by Weiner, giving the lead back to the Miners, 15-14.
Cody Hazzard (Mazon, IL/Yorkville Christian) came in for Schisler to start the sixth, walking his first three batters which led to UIS getting a pair of the runs in the inning to retake the lead. The Miners recorded three runs on three hits in the top of the seventh, including two off a homerun by
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico), going back ahead 18-16.
Jacob Cook (Shorewood, Ill./Minooka Community) took the mound for the bottom of the seventh, giving up four hits as four runs came home for UIS, putting the Miners behind by two. Another two-run homer by Prince tied the game at 20-20 and was the Miners only hit of the eighth inning. The Prairie Stars were able to capitalize on an error by the Miners that prolonged the eighth inning, hitting a three-run homer to break the tie. The Miners were down by three entering the final inning, but got four runs on a pair of doubles, a single, and a wild pitch, taking a one run lead entering the bottom of the ninth.
Dylan Wipf (Oak Park, IL/River Forest) stepped in to close out the game, but would only get two outs in the inning, allowing two runs home as the Prairie Stars won with a walk off sac fly to center field.
The Miners' 25 hits today are tied for the most in a game in program history. Sugi also tied a program record with 5 hits. Just about everyone had a good day at the plate, but none better than Sugi, who had 5 hits and 6 RBIs on 7 at bats.
The Miners will play the Prairie Stars again tomorrow in a doubleheader that starts at noon.
