CRESTWOOD, IL – The Southern Illinois Miners scored five runs in the fifth inning on their way to a 10-3 rout over the ThunderBolts at Standard Bank Stadium Saturday night.
The game began as a pitchers’ duel. Mike Recchia got out of a bases loaded, one out jam in the first and the only run scored in the first four innings for either side came on a Cannon Lester solo home run in the second.
The Miners opened their lead up in the fifth when Carlos Mendez singled with one out and Chad Maddox doubled him in. Then, with two outs, Will Block walked and Ken Gregory drove in both Maddox and Block on a two-base hit. Lester and Hagburg each came up with two-out RBI hits as well to make it 6-0.
The ThunderBolts offense got going in the bottom of the fifth. They cut the lead in half with a Mike Torres triple that scored both Travis Weaver who had singled and Chris Wade, who was hit by a pitch. Zach Aakhus brought home Torres on a base hit to make it 6-3.
That was as close as the ThunderBolts would come. Sean Harrell’s home run in the sixth made it 7-3 and Mendez’s RBI single in the seventh put the Miners on top 8-3.
The Bolts put runners on base in the seventh and eighth, but were hurt by double plays in both innings. Overall, the Southern Illinois defense turned four double plays in the game.
The Miners put the game away in the top of the ninth with two more runs to make the final score 10-3.
David Harden (4-1) went eight innings for the win and Mike Recchia (3-2) lasted just 4.2 for the loss.
The Bolts hit the road next for three games in Schaumburg against the first-place Boomers. Stephen Sauer (2-1) will get the start in game one against Tyler Watkins (1-2). The game is scheduled to begin at 1:00 CDT. The game broadcast can be heard on WXAV, 88.3 fm and wxav.com.
Box Score
