07/29/2007

Southern Illinois topples Beach Bums

Santana drives in two for Miners

FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARION, Ill. — The first-ever meeting between Southern Illinois and Traverse City was a hit for the host Miners.

Southern Illinois scored four times in the first three innings en route to a 5-3 victory over the Beach Bums on Friday in a game delayed by rain.

Ralph Santana led off the bottom of the first inning for the Miners (30-30) with a single, stole second, took third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch.

Santana also figured prominently in the three-run third inning when he followed a single by Ryan Kane leading off the inning with his third home run of the year.

Later in the third, Eric Suttle singled to left and advanced all the way to third base on an error. He scored on a wild pitch.

TC starter Ryan McClellan (4-5) left the game in the third inning with an apparent injury.

Bryan Rembisz tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings for the Beach Bums (25-35) before yielding to Brett Bostelman in the seventh.

Southern Illinois added a run in the eighth inning as Chris Hall led off the frame with a single, took second on a groundout, advanced to third on a single and scored on a wild pitch. TC yielded four wild pitches in the game.

The Bums scored all three of their runs off Southern Illinois starter Brian Blomquist (3-6). Two of those came in the third inning on a two-run single by Sam Orr while Zach Kalter added a RBI groundout in the seventh.

Rick Hummel and Travis Hope worked one scoreless inning.

The Bums finished with eight hits in the contest, led by two from Orr and Aaron Garza.