Miners Drop Home Opener In Home Run Derby

The Southern Illinois Miners came back from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth inning, then another two-run deficit in the bottom of the tenth to force a home run derby to decide the game against Équipe Québec, but lost the derby 3-0 to lose the game at Rent One Park on Wednesday night.
Équipe Québec struck first in the top of the third inning, scoring two runs on four hits in the frame against Miners starter Zac Westcott. With runners at first and second and nobody out, L.P. Pelletier grounded a ball over to Miners second baseman Craig Massey who tried turning a double play, but threw the ball into left field, allowing Gift Ngoepe to score. The next batter, Elliott Curtis, singled up the middle to score the second run, putting Équipe Québec up 2-0.
The Miners were able to respond right away in the bottom of the third, scoring one run when Anthony Brocato scored on an error from the Équipe Québec third baseman Elliott Curtis on pop-up, making it 2-1 Équipe Québec.
The visitors got that run back in the top of the fourth inning on a solo home run by Riley Pittman, making the score 3-1. It would remain 3-1 until the bottom of the ninth inning. Andrew Case came on to pitch for Équipe Québec, and walked Nolan Earley to lead off the inning before allowing singles to Jared Mang and Ryan Stacy, loading the bases with no outs. Spencer Henn then came up with an RBI single two batters later to make it 3-2, and Jarrod Watkins followed with a slow grounder to second base to tie the game at 3-3.
Équipe Québec was able to score twice with the International Tiebreaker in the top of the tenth inning for a 5-3 lead, and again the Miners came back. Luke Mangieri's RBI single scored the automatic runner to make it 5-4, and later in the inning, Marshall Rich struck out with two outs, but the ball got past catcher Jeffry Parra, allowing Massey to score the tying run and send it to a home run derby at 5-5.
The Miners would send Mangieri, Earley, and Mang to hit, while Équipe Québec sent Pittman, Dane Tofteland, and Jack Barrie to hit for them. All three Équipe Québec players hit one home run, while none of the Miners were able to send one out of the park, giving the visitors the victory.