Miners bounce back in Chugiak with a hard fought win in extras

The Miners were able to bounce back vs the Chinooks on the road after their loss the night prior. They're now 3-2 vs the Chinooks (2-0 in exhibitions) on the season and 2-2 in league play.

The Miners struck early in the first and second off the bats of Hayzen Inouye with an RBI single and Alex Pearson with a solo shot to left field, his first, to go up 2-0. On the bump, RHP Jace Ziola cruised, tossing four frames with seven strikeouts and one unearned run in the fourth after a throw to third from Declan Spooner trying to cut down a runner got away. 

After the second, the offense for the Miners slowed down, but their arms came through. LHP Zach Bowman threw three solid innings in relief, letting up just one run in the seventh to make it 2-2. RHP Kyle Chase threw two perfect innings in the eighth and ninth, while striking out three. Sending the game to extras.

In the top of the tenth, with a runner starting on second, the Miners plated two and took the lead with three straight singles from Matt Bline, Will Millard and Inouye. They added one more with back-to-back HBP from Kanyon Millar and Tyler Akers. 

Auden Pankonin came in to slam the doors on the Chinooks up three, but like the Miners the day prior, they made it interesting. An RBI double, groundout to move the runner over, and wild pitch made it 5-4, and a walk brought the winning run to the plate. But Pankonin came through inducing a tailor made double play to end it, and get his second save on the season. 

Head Coach Ty Lebrun said he liked what he saw in such a close win.

"I love the fight from our guys, we've been grinding trying to get one," Lebrun said. "I like the execution, our pitchers threw really well tonight." 

Lebrun said nothing changed from the bats in the tenth except sensing vulnerabilty 

"I just think we tasted blood in the water, we've been working on getting that big hit," Lebrun said "Matty [Bline] came through with a big knock and we kind of just kept piecing stuff together."

The Miners move to 2-2 in the ABL standings and will play another against the Chinooks tonight at home, 6 P.M. AKDT.