The Miners Stun the Bucs in the Headlights on the Road

The Miners knocked off the first-place Anchorage Bucs 11-9 in Anchorage on Monday night, moving to 5-4 in the standings and dropping the Bucs to 7-2. 

For the second straight game, the Miners were down by seven runs after three innings. However, for the second straight game, the Miners fought with everything they had, and this time it resulted in a massive win. 

Wisconsin Oshkosh pitcher Josh Jansen got the start on the mound, and the Bucs quickly got to him, scoring three in the first inning and five in the third inning to put Mat-Su down 8-1 early. The only run they had was due to Miner's player of the week, Eliot Medlock, hitting another home run in the bottom of the first. 

However, the Miners changed everything in the top of the sixth with their most electrifying performance yet. Three straight RBI hits for the Miners, led by BYU's Ridge Erickson, a two-RBI double from Colorado School of Mines' Evan Bilter, and Pomona-Pitzer's Greg Pierantoni made the game 8-6 before a Bucs pitching change was made. However, it didn't help. 

Central Missouri's Cole Funkhouser flipped the game upside down when he hit a no-doubter grand slam in left field, stunning the Bucs in headlights and taking a 10-8 lead. 

The Miners' bullpen never let it slip away, and the Miners went on to secure an 11-9 win thanks to relief pitching, led by Wasilla native Bomon Marks coming out of the bullpen and pitching two and a third, and a brilliant offensive fight. 

Could this be the win the Miners needed to get back in rhythm? Miners fans will see if they can make it two in a row vs the Anchorage Glacier Pilots Tuesday night at Hermon Brothers Field, the first of a four-game homestand. 

Dylan VanderVeen
2025 Mat-Su Miners Broadcaster