Washington Jumps Out to Early Lead, Holds On to Even Series
MARION, Ill. - The Washington Wild Things (30-25) stayed within a game of a wild-card spot by winning to even the series against the Southern Illinois Miners (22-34) Wednesday night. Despite striking out 13 times and allowing seven runs, the Wild Things won 9-7, after building an early 6-0 lead and holding on, despite the best comeback effort the Miners could give.
Brian O’Keefe started for the Wild Things and went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on nine hits. He got the win in the contest that saw four Wild Things pitch, including O’Keefe. Davis Adkins and Trevor Bradley pitched before Zach Strecker earned the save going four outs.
The scoring started in the first inning as Washington managed to score four times. Kane Sweeney hit a two-run home run (9) to open the scoring, right fielder Hector Roa drove in designated hitter Bralin Jackson with a single and Kyle Pollock lifted a sacrifice fly to the outfield that made it 4-0. Washington added two unearned runs in the second to lead 6-0 heading the Miners’ half of the frame.
Romeo Cortina then hit a three-run home run to cut the lead for the Wild Things in half. It was his first professional home run. Cortina then hit a solo shot, his second home run of the game, in the fourth to make it 6-4 Wild Things. In the Wild Things’ fifth, shortstop Trevin Sonnier plated two with a two-strike, two-out single to make it 8-4, while Roa drove in a run in the sixth to make it a five-run lead for Washington. Southern Illinois added an unearned tally in the seventh and two in the eighth before Strecker closed the door.
Four Wild Things had multi-hit games while three had multiple RBI in the victory.
Trevor Foss takes the hill for Washington in the rubber match tomorrow at 8:05 p.m.
