MARION, IL -- The Traverse City Beach Bums fought back from a 4-1 deficit with two runs in the eighth inning, but were unable to claim the last run they needed to make the comeback complete as the Southern Illinois Miners took a 4-3 victory and clinched a 3-0 win in the Frontier League Division Series Saturday night.
Trailing 4-1 heading into the eighth, the Beach Bums started their rally on the first throw of the inning as Ryan Still was hit by a pitch. Brian Heere followed with a bunt single and Jose Vargas walked to load the bases. The Miners went to the bullpen and it appeared as if the move would work as Steven Grife struck out the next two batters. Kyle Colligan made sure, however, that the Beach Bums would not come away empty-handed, lining a single to center to score Still and Heere and cut the lead to 4-3. That was as close as Traverse City would get, unfortunately as Grife got the final out of the inning and Brandon Cunniff was able to strike out the side in the ninth to preserve the win.
