Miners sweep doubleheader at Chugiak

PALMER — Mat-Su needed a rally in one game and never trailed in the other as the Miners swept a holiday doubleheader against the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks Tuesday night at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak.

The Miners built an 8-0 lead in the nightcap, and used a 9-3 win over the Chinooks to improve to an Alaska Baseball League best 17-8.

Elijah MacNamee finished 3 for 4 at the plate with two RBI. Brandon Chinea and Blake Benefield added two hits and two RBI each. Austin Dennis scored twice.

Calvin LeBrun earned the win on the mound, allowing only one earned run over 5 1/3 innings of work. The Gonzaga lefty fanned six and walked only one.

Earlier in the evening, Mat-Su used four runs in the seventh to get past Chugiak 6-3.

MacNamee singled for the Miners in the seventh to load the bases. Justin Ammons used a run-scoring single to tie the score at 3. With the bases still loaded, Nick Brooks drew a walk to push another run across, and the Miners led 4-3. Preston Pavlica also walked with the bases loaded to drive in another run. Later in the inning, Mat-Su used yet another walk to drive in a run. Austin Dennis walked with the bases loaded.

MacNamee and Andy Thomas had two hits each for the Miners. Thomas also drive in two runs.

Josh Green retired three straight in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win ofr the Miners.

After an off-day Wednesday, Mat-Su returns to the field to host the Chinooks Thursday at 7 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.