Miners blast Bucs in Anchorage

PALMER — Before it rained, it was the Mat-Su Miners offense that poured.

Mat-Su enjoyed a steady flow of offense early, and grabbed a 12-3 rain-shortened, five-inning victory over the Anchorage Bucs Wednesday night at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

“I feel really good about our offense,” Mat-Su Miners head coach Ben Taylor said in a press release issued by the team.

Buoyed by a seven-run second, the Miners able to take a big lead in a game that also featured heavy rains. The Miners used a heavy dose of offense to storm ahead early. Brooks Stotler drove in three runs from his leadoff spot. Jake Scudder added a pair of RBI. Levi Jordan, Garrison Schwartz and AJ Lee furnished two hits each. Lee led the squad with three runs scored.

“These guys put the work in and they are really committed to their craft, and I respect what they can do,” Taylor said.

Mat-Su starter Connor Higgins pitched a five-inning complete game in the victory, scattering six hits and three earned runs over that stretch. The Arizona State lefty fanned four and walked two.

“It was mostly my slider working well today,” Higgins said in the release. “I was also getting ahead with the fastball, which was key all game.”

Anchorage starter Will Neely was tagged with the loss on the mound, allowing five hits and seven runs, but only two earned, during three innings. Anchorage native Zach Ferntheil allowed four hits and five earned runs for the Bucs.

Mat-Su Miners improved to 9-6 overall. The Alaska Baseball League leaders added to their cushion at the top of the standings. Heading into ABL play Thursday night, the Miners held a 1 ½ game lead over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

The game is the first of four straight against the Bucs. The Miners will play three straight nights in Anchorage, starting with a game tonight at 7 p.m. at Mulcahy. The Bucs (8-9) and Miners meet again Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.