Miners score walk-off win over Oilers

PALMER — The Mat-Su celebrated a walk-off win and extended their winning streak to six straight with a 3-2 victory over the Peninsula Oilers Monday night at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

Alex Vergara drew a walk with the bases loaded and Josh Paino scored in the bottom of the ninth to give the Miners the win, and help Mat-Su improve to 6-0. Oilers reliever Will O’Neil walked four hitters in the ninth. Paino was walked to start the bottom half of the ninth. Blake Avilia also walked, and Casey Sunseri was given the intentional pass to load the bases with one out.

Miners reliever Owen Loesch earned the win in relief, allowing only one hit over four innings pitched. Loesch also fanned four. Michael Yates made the start and scattered two hits, two runs, two strikeouts and three walks over five innings.

Mat-Su jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first. Avilia walked and scored on a wild pitch. Sunseri scored on a Cade Manning groundout.

Avilia led Mat-Su with two hits, two walks and a run. Sunseri and Paino also walked twice.

Mat-Su crushed the Chugiak Chinooks 17-5 at Hermon Brothers on Sunday. Avilia drove in four and scored three times. Paino was 4 for 5 with three RBI and two runs scored. Brandon Heidal added three runs.

Liam Hatakenake earned the win on the mound in relief, allowing three hits and a run over 2 ⅓ innings.

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