By Normal CornBelters Information
NORMAL, Ill. – The Normal CornBelters, presented by Illinois Corn Farmers, committed six errors in an 11-5 loss to the Southern Illinois Miners on Friday night at the Corn Crib.
The Miners began the game by loading the bases on two singles and a walk and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alex De Leon and a fielder’s choice grounder by Aaron Gates to take a quick 2-0 lead. The Belters received three two-out walks to load the bases in their first time at the plate but did not score.
Gates earned his second RBI via fielder’s choice in the third inning, and the Miners added two more runs in the frame aided by a pair of CornBelter errors to push their advantage to 5-0.
The CornBelters finally tallied with two outs in the sixth inning on the fourth home run of the season by Dillon Haupt to cut the deficit to 5-1.
Southern Illinois increased the lead to 7-1 in the seventh inning without a hit on a hit batter, two errors and a sacrifice fly by Jordan Brower.
R.J. Perucki led off the bottom of the seventh with a line drive home run to right to cut the deficit to 7-2 followed by two more runs on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice by Santiago Chirino to send the game to the eighth with Southern Illinois leading 7-4.
The Miners got the runs back and then some with a grand slam home run by Steve Marino to left field in the eighth inning for an 11-4 lead.
Normal loaded the bases in the eighth inning on three hits but scored just one more on a Victor Barron fielder’s choice to cut the margin to 11-5.
Josh Kimborowicz (2-0) earned the win with 6 1/3 innings on the hill with six hits, four runs (earned), four walks and three strikeouts. Mike Schweiss (1-1) received the loss with 5 1/3 innings of work, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits with four walks and two strikeouts.
The series continues on Saturday at 6:35 p.m. at the Corn Crib as lefty Max Homick (1-0, 1.80 ERA) starts for the Belters. State Farm Saturday features half-price box seats for State Farm agents, employees and policyholders. Star Wars Night will also feature many characters from the films and a special jersey auction after the game.
