Miners Roll for 2nd Straight

It was cold and rainy, but that didn't prevent the Miners from their first non-league victory of the season.  Mat-Su used another good performance from the starting pitcher—this time Mike Carlson—to propel the team to a 7-4 win.

But the bats weren't silent either.  Head Coach Russel Raley shuffled around the lineup, moving the Texas A&M duo (Scott Arthur and David Alleman) to the top and relocating Nick Cox and Blake Newalu.

Something clicked.

Arthur had 2 hits and 2 RBI, Alleman had a hit (and another stolen base), Cox went 1-2 with 2 runs and Newalu had 2 hits of his own.  And since Nick Croce had the day off behind the plate, that opened up a spot for Jonathan Johnson, who had another good game, adding 2 hits, 2 runs and an RBI.  Johnson started off the scoring in the 3rd after leading off with a single and scoring on Shane Brown's single.  The Miners scored twice in an inning three times during the game.

The pitching front was solid again.  Carlson got the win with 5.1 IP, 1 ER and 2 K.  Connor Hulse pitched 2.2 spotless innings of relief and left with 2 outs in the 9th after letting up 2 runs.  Ryan Cole came in for the final out and notched his first save of the summer.

The Miners are off Saturday but return to Hermon Brothers Field Sunday for the final non-league game of the season.  It's Fred Meyer Day at the ballpark as the Miners welcome the Oregon Black Sox.  Jeremy Atkins is slated to start.  Game time is Sunday, 7 p.m. first pitch.  Miners pregame starts at 6:45, and catch all the action right here.