The Peninsula Oilers split a double-header Wednesday with the Mat-Su Miners, dropping Game One 7-6 and bouncing back with a convincing 5-0 shut-out in a rain-shortened Game 2.
In Game 1, the Miners went ahead 4-0 on the strength of a 3-run home run by Cooper Vance. The Oilers replied with a home run of their own by Nick Costello and once again clawed their way back into the game, trailing 4-3 into the 7th and final inning.
The Miner’s delivered 3 runs in the top frame, making it 7-3. But the never-say-day Oilers came back with 3 of their own, and left the tying and winning runs on base for a 7-6 loss, their 7th in a row in the ABL.
In Game Two the Oilers’ starting pitcher, Homer’s own Mose Hayes, was magnificent, striking out 7 with a consistently impossible curve ball, and allowing only 2 hits. Oiler offense was provided by Owen McElfatrick with a lead-off double and a timely 3 RBI’s from catcher Ben Griffin. The game was called in the top of the 6th because of rain.
The Oilers complete the 5-game series against the Miners tonight at 6 pm, then hit the road for a week. All games are heard on ESPN 1140, 96.9 FM and radiokenai.com.