Home runs spark come-from-behind win for Mat-Su Miners

FAIRBANKS — The Athletes In Action Fire scorched Mat-Su Miners in the early innings of the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, but fizzled down the stretch. The Miners capped an 8-7 come-from-behind rally in the ninth inning of a game that saw the teams combine for 19 hits and four hit batters.

It was one of those hit batters that would come back to haunt AIA Fire pitcher Harrison Helms, who plugged Tyler Ruch with one out in the ninth to put the go-ahead run on base. With the score tied 6 -6, Helms the walked Wesley Thigpen to set the table for Ryan Kaup, who doubled them both home.

The Fire would pick up a run in the bottom of the ninth, but the Miners held on for the win. While Mat-Su’s bats picked up late, it was all AIA Fire to start the game. The Fairbanks team put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning, then added another in both the second and third innings to build a 6-0 lead.

Mat-Su found the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Reagan Moczygemba smashed a solo home run. The floodgates opened in the top of the sixth. Andy Mee led off with a solo home run, followed by a single from Nick DeBiasse, double from Pablo Bermudez and a David Lyon single. Moczygemba added to his big night with an RBI double. By the time the dust had cleared on the basepaths, the Miners had tied the game 6-6.

The teams settle down for the seventh and eighth innings before finding a second wind in the ninth.

For the nightcap of the doubleheader, the teams were tied 5-5 after five innings as of press time Saturday night.

The second game also saw the teams score in spurts. With the score tied 0-0 after one inning, the Miners broke the ice with two runs in the top of the second. But the Fire answered with five runs of their own, sparked by a lead-off triple by Hank Price. The Miners helped the Fire by committing two errors in the inning.

But the offense again came up big for Mat-Su in the third inning, scoring three runs.