Miners Score Huge Comeback Win in Home Opener

The Mat-Su Miners returned to the friendly confines of Hermon Brothers Field on Friday and defeated the Anchorage Glacier Pilots 9-4.

Reliever Jack Hostetler (1-0) got the win after the Miners tagged Mac Zawastoski (0-1) for five runs to erase what had been a 2-run deficit.

The game started off rocky for the Miners, as starter Aidan Dolinsky allowed the first four batters he faced to reach base, culminating in a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to give Anchorage its first run. The Glacier Pilots would only get one run out of that opportunity but tacked on three more in the ensuing frame to chase Dolinsky from the game.

That would be all she wrote for Anchorage, however, as Hostetler came on to throw six brilliant innings out of the bullpen to allow his Miners to mount a rally. The righty allowed just two hits and struck out five.

On the other side of the ball, the first run for Mat-Su came courtesy of a Ryan Richard steal of home plate in the fourth inning. That play got the Palmer crowd, quiet through the first few innings, on their feet, and the Miners were off and running from there.

Richard was the most prolific hitter for the Miners, with a pair of singles and a hit-by-pitch, as well as three runs. Dating back to last game, the Baton Rouge native now leads the team with five hits on the season. For Anchorage, no one managed more than one hit, although the team received eight free passes, four each via walk and hit-by-pitch.

The homestand will continue tomorrow at 4 when Mat-Su plays host to Anchorage's other ABL team. Tune in to Mat-Su Miners Baseball on YouTube to watch the Miners and Bucs square off.

Photo courtesy of Bryan Boyett.