MARION (WSIL) � What a difference a couple of days can make for the Southern Illinois Miners.
The Miners pounded out 17 hits in an 11-0 win over Windy City Tuesday night. After getting rained out Wednesday, the Miners managed only five hits Thursday in a pair of seven inning game, losing both ends of a doubleheader to the Thunderbolts, 6-5 and 3-0.
In the opener, Southern Illinois jumped out to a 4-0 lead but couldn’t hold it. The Thunderbolts scored four in the fourth and single runs in the fifth and sixth and then held on for the win.
The Miners had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 6-4, the Miners loaded the bases with one out on a hit sandwiched by two walks. Stephen Lohr’s sacrifice fly scored Joe Duncan to cut it to 6-5. After Andy Cosgrove drew the third walk of the inning to re-load the bases with two outs, Jarrod Watkins bounced out to second on the first pitch he saw to end the game.
In the nightcap, Windy City starter Cole Bellair took a no-hitter into the seventh. Bellair walked Lohr and Cosgrove to start the seventh, but got Kyle Davis to pop out and Watkins to line out. Arturo Nieto ruined the no-no with an infield single to load the bases and end Bellair’s night, but Connor Mayes came on and struck out Duncan to end the game.
The Miners fall to 23-17, four and a half games behind first place Florence and a game and half behind second place Evansville in the West Division. The Thunderbolts improve to 19-23.
The Miners will visit Gateway this weekend, starting Friday night.
