AIA slips past Mat-Su

Xavier Scruggs walked with the bases loaded to push across the game-winning run in the bottom of the 14th inning as the AIA Fire slipped past Mat-Su 6-5 at Growden Park in Fairbanks on Saturday.

Chris Ahern scored the game-winner as the Fire took the final contest of the three-game set. Mat-Su won the first two games of the series.

Brian Chrisman walked Ahern and Scruggs, and surrendered a Blake Stouffer single in the final inning. The Marshall University product was tagged with the loss.

AIA scored four times in the bottom of the third to take the lead, but Mat-Su tied the game with three runs in the sixth.

A pair of Stanford prospects, Brent Milleville and Joey August, drove in runs in the inning. Joe Ercolano scored on a Milleville single, and Travis Coulter crossed home plate as August reached on a fielder's choice.

Milleville scored after an AIA error.

Coulter, Milleville and August each had a pair of hits.

David Phelps made the start for Mat-Su, allowing six hits and four earned runs. The Notre Dame hurler fanned seven.

Mat-Su (11-6 overall and 6-5 in Alaska Baseball League play) was to face the Alaska Goldpanners in the first of a four-game set on Sunday, but that game was rained out. The contest was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Monday.

Results were not available prior to press time.

The Miners also face the Panners in a previously scheduled doubleheader today. The first pitch is at 2 p.m. at Growden Park.