MARION, IL–The River City Rascals dropped the first game of their series against the Southern Illinois Miners at Rent One Park on Tuesday, losing by a final score of 6-1. The Miners got three homers in the game, and starting pitcher Steven Ridings (6-4) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in the win.
Nolan Earley got the scoring started for the Miners in the first inning with a two-out homer. Chance Shepard added a solo shot in the fourth, and Joe Duncan another in the fifth. The Rascals didn’t get their first hit until a leadoff single from Braxton Martinez in the sixth, and made it 3-1 in the seventh inning following a ground-rule double from Paul Kronenfeld, a bunt single from Mike Jurgella, and an RBI groundout from Zach Lavy. The Miners added three big insurance runs in the eighth, getting four straight hits, highlighted by a two-run single from Jake Willsey.
Ridings was stellar, going seven innings while allowing only three hits and one run, walking none and striking out eight. Relievers Zach Hartman and John Werner gave the Miners two scoreless innings out of the bullpen to close out the game.
Rascals starter Dalton Roach (0-1) allowed three runs in five innings, while striking out 10 in his first professional start.
The Rascals (32-29) look to bounce back against the Miners (27-30) in Game 2 of the series tomorrow night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm CT. Josh Kimborowicz, who pitched for the Miners in 2016, will get on the start for the Rascals.
