Six-run ninth beats RiverHawks

06/08/2012 10:19 PM - LOVES PARK, Ill. – The Southern Illinois Miners erased three three-run deficits and rallied for six runs in the ninth inning to beat the Rockford RiverHawks 14-11 on Friday night. The RiverHawks would hold an 11-8 lead into the ninth inning, but Ken Gregory would hit a two-run homer off Theron Minium to close the gap to 11-10. Cannon Lester would tie the game with a two-out RBI single and Miners’ center fielder Chad Maddox’s go-ahead three-run homer off Cliff Archibald (1-1), who blew the save, broke an 11-11 tie and lifted the Miners to victory. “They put together good at-bats and got clutch hits,” manager Rich Austin told NTA FM.  Rockford jumped on starter Southern Illinois starter Thomas Campbell in the first inning as an RBI double by Javier Herrera and two-run homer by Devin Shepherd, his first of the season, put the RiverHawks up 3-0. The Miners would answer with three runs in the second, but the RiverHawks would get three in the bottom half of the inning to go up 6-3, including a solo homer by Michael Hur, his third of the season.   However, the Miners would overcome a 7-4 deficit with three unearned runs in the fifth on an error with the bases loaded by starter Nick Sarianides.  With the game tied at 7-7, Rockford’s Evan Button would deliver in the fifth inning with a two-out, three-run homer, his first of the season, to put the RiverHawks up 10-7.  The Miners would score one on a solo homer by Jake Kaase, but the RiverHawks would score one in the sixth to go up 11-8. Starter Nick Sarianides lasted six innings, giving up eight hits and eight runs, five earned, while striking out a season-high eight batters.  Anthony Collazo (1-0) earned the win with two innings of scoreless relief, and Max Peterson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his seventh save of the season.  The RiverHawks tied a season-high with 15 hits. Button went 1-for-3 with four RBI on the night, while Shepherd was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI. The RiverHawks return to action on Saturday night against the Miners, with a first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. The first 1000 fans receive a RiverHawks logo baseball, sponsored by the Illinois Railway Museum.  The RiverHawks are members of the Frontier League, an independent professional baseball league in its 20th season. Games are broadcast on NTA-FM (100.5) Advertising and ticket information is available by calling (815) 885-2255. Fans can also visit www.rockfordriverhawks.com.