Miners walk-off Glacier Pilots to stay perfect and grab first league win.

The Mat-Su Miners stayed perfect on their season by getting a walk-off hit to beat the Anchorage Glacier Pilots 5-4 on Wednesday. While the first 5 games were non-league games this one will count to the Alaska Baseball League standings.

The game went back and forth until the very end when BYU catcher Ridge Erickson singled down the left field line to bring home Iowa catcher Carter Geffre and send Mat-Su Miners fans home happy.

“It felt amazing. I was glad to be able to come through for my team in that moment,” said the BYU catcher.

The Miners struck first in the bottom of the first off a Carter Geffre single, but the Glacier Pilots quickly answered back every single time the Miners scored.

Nebraska sophomore Gavin Balchowicz got his first start in green and yellow and kept the damage at two earned runs in 3 innings pitched. A bullpen staff of Cole Marjtiljohni, Collin Miskelly, Kade Arn, and Greyson Chappell pitched the next three giving up just two runs in those six innings.

Greyson Chappell recorded the first win of the conference season for Mat-Su while Erickson became an instant fan favorite. The Miners play at home again tomorrow night as they rival Anchorage Bucs come to Hermon Brothers Field.

“We just have to do the same thing we’ve been doing. I’m not worried. We’re confident,” said Erickson when asked about playing to Bucs again.

First pitch against the Anchorage Bucs on Thursday is scheduled for 6 p.m.