ROMEOVILLE, Ill. – The Miners lost 4-2 and 8-0 to the Flyers in today's double header. The records for starting pitchers
Ethan Morrow (Lenexa, KS/Shawnee Mission West) and
Estin McBroom (Monett, MO/Monett) now drop to 3-5 and 2-3, respectively.
Game 1: Flyers 4, Miners 2
A pair of walks got the Miners with a runner in scoring position in the first inning with only one out, with
Jack Bell (Andover, KS/Andover Central) on third base. They were not able to complete Bell's trip around the bases though as Lewis got out of the inning with a strikeout and a groundout against the next two batters. Morrow struggled in the opening inning, putting the first three batters on base. A double play would help the Miners get through the inning quicker, but they still gave up a run as Lewis went ahead 1-0
Keaton Scott (Hannibal, MO/Hannibal) would get his first homerun of the season in the second, tying the game at 1-1. The Flyers responded with a homerun of their own on the first at bat in the bottom of the second, reclaiming a one run lead. Another double play by the Miners would help S&T keep the inning short and not give up any more runs. The home run derby continued in the third, with both
Garrett Weiner (Alton, IL/Marquette) and Lewis' Kocen hitting solo homeruns in the third, bringing the score to 3-2 in Lewis' favor.
A brief three at bats for the Miners in the fourth would take the game into the bottom of the fourth where Morrow would be replaced by
Jake Schisler (Quincy, IL/Quincy Notre Dame) after giving up a double. Schisler got out of the fourth without giving up a run but would allow three hits and a run in the fifth as the Flyers took their largest lead of the day at 4-2. Despite getting three hits in the next two innings, the Miners were unable to bring anyone home, losing 4-2.
Game 2: Flyers 8, Miners 0
The Flyers' came out batting well in game two, getting two singles and a double in the opening inning and taking a 1-0 lead. The second would be their biggest inning of the day, getting 7 hits and 6 runs off McBroom before he was replaced by
Dylan Bates (O'Fallon, MO/Fort Zumwalt West). The Miners got their first hit in the top of the third, with
Denton Damgaard (Colorado Springs, CO/Cheyenne Mountain HS) hitting a single to left field to put runners on first and second with no outs. A well-executed sacrifice bunt by
Carter Bither (Springfield, MO/Springfield Catholic) would move the runners to second and third where they would be left stranded after a strikeout and groundout ended the inning.
The Miners allowed Lewis to load the bases after committing a couple of errors in the bottom of the third but would get out of the inning without giving up any more runs.
Garrett Weiner (Alton, IL/Marquette) and
Tyler Prince (Mexico, MO/Mexico) led off with two singles to start the fourth but would be the next Miners to be left stranded after the next three batters fell victim to a strikeout and two fly outs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Bates got two outs in the first five pitches but would give up a run two at bats later after a double and a single.
Matthew Kaiser (St. Louis, MO/Vianney) would take the mound in the bottom of the fifth, getting through the inning in seven pitches with a strikeout. The Miners got into good position again the sixth after Weiner was hit by pitch and Prince was walked, but a double play and a strikeout would leave them stranded again. The Miners would get into scoring position again in the seventh with runners on first and third, but they would be left on base as well as the Miners last batter grounded out to first to end the game in an 8-0 loss.
Weiner led the team in hits today, getting 3 in 5 at bats in his first series back from injury. The Miners now fall to 22-18 overall with a 12-14 GLVC record.
The final game against Lewis University is tomorrow at noon.
