Miners fall in Anchorage

PALMER — The Anchorage Bucs used a four-inning fourth to grab a 7-6 win over the Mat-Su Miners Sunday night at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

The loss overshadowed Mat-Su’s best offensive output in 10 days. The six runs were the most scored by the Miners, since Mat-Su plated eight during an 11-8 loss to the Bucs June 16.

“The bats are coming around and we are doing a pretty good job for the most part,” Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor said in a press release issued by the team. “We are putting ourselves in good positions.”

Garrison Schwartz was one of four different Miners to finish with two hits in the game. Both went for extra bases. Schwartz smacked a solo home run in the fifth inning, and also doubled in the loss.

“Schwartz got good pitches to hit all day,” Taylor said. “He executed, and took good at-bats.”

Brooks Stotler, Levi Jordan and Josh Bissonette also finished with two hits in the game. Schwartz and Stotler each scored twice, and Schwartz led the team with two RBI. Jordan, Bissonette, Michael Donadio and Josh Rolette also drove in runs.

Mat-Su opened the game with three quick runs. Stotler led off the game with a single, and later scored on a Donadio sacrifice. Bissonette drove in Jordan with a single to make it 2-0. Schwartz scored late in the inning to push Mat-Su’s advantage to three.

Anchorage answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first, and took a 6-4 lead during its four-run fourth.

Mat-Su reliever Gage O’Brien was tagged with the loss on the mound, after allowing five hits and three earned runs in two innings of work. Jacob Hughey made the start for Mat-Su, allowing two hits and two earned runs over three innings.

With the victory, Anchorage moved into a first-place tie at the top of the Alaska Baseball League with the Miners. Mat-Su dropped to 7-6 with the loss. Anchorage improved to 8-7.

Entering league play Monday, all five teams in the ABL were separated by just one game in the standings. Mat-Su hosted the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks Monday night at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. Results were not available prior to press time. See frontiersman.com/sports for more.