Mat-Su falls in short in epic comeback at Anchorage 13-12

ANCHORAGE — More runs and minutes of play than any other game of the season still were not enough to hand the Miners a win, falling on the road to the Bucs 13-12 on Friday.

The game lasted three hours and 35 minutes, which broke Mat-Su’s previous mark for 2023 of three hours and 20 minutes which came against the same Anchorage squad on Tuesday.

The Bucs jumped out of the gate with a four-run first inning thanks to a two-run blast from center fielder Lex Boedicker and a two-run double from designated hitter Zach Thomas. Anchorage added on runs in the following two innings before Mat-Su finally cut through in the top of the fourth.

Miners center fielder Alex Vergara crashed a double to lead off the frame and a double play brought him home. The next three batters each reached base and scored to end the frame at 6-4 Bucs.

Anchorage ended up scoring in every inning except the seventh and ninth, amounting to 13 runs on 12 hits.

Mat-Su trailed 13-7 entering the eighth inning and changed its luck. The first four batters reached base with three scoring. The M’s loaded the bases for first baseman Cooper Vest trailing 13-9.

The B.Y.U.-product charged the ball to the right field wall, bringing the Valley within one run on a bases-clearing triple. Vergara followed up with a sharp drive to center field, but right at Boedicker.

Both teams went hitless in their following times at the plate, finishing the game at 13-12 Bucs.

The game turned into a tilt of walks and wild pitches. Mat-Su walked 12 batters, and Anchorage put 10 on-base by way of the BB.

Additionally, both squads racked up wild pitches with the Miners missing on six and the Bucs throwing four.

This affair finished as the highest scoring game in the A.B.L. this season and as the only game with 20 runs being scored and both teams hitting double digits.

Mat-Su starts its weeklong trip to the Kenai Peninsula on Sunday with first pitch at 2 p.m. against the last place Oilers.