FOR RELEASE: MAY 28, 2008

MINERS HAND GRIZZLIES SIXTH STRAIGHT LOSS

Five Southern Illinois Miners' pitchers limited the Gateway Grizzlies to just three hits as the Grizzlies fell, for the sixth consecutive time, 6-1 to the Miners at Rent One Park in Marion, IL.

Despite the lack of offense, the Grizzlies (1-7) trailed only 2-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.  It was then that the Miners (4-4) tallied four runs for the final margin.

Josh Santerre started the inning for the Grizzlies.  The Miners loaded the bases on two one-out hits and a walk by Santerre, before  he exited.  Eric Ridener followed and balked in a run.  He gave up a two-run single to Tony Roth to make it 5-1.  Eric Suttle followed with an RBI single for the final score.

Kevin Hammons (0-1) suffered the loss despite a decent outing.  Hammons tossed five innings allowing two runs, one earned, on just two hits.  He walked three and struck out three.

The Grizzlies only run came in the sixth inning when Ryne Malone walked to lead off the inning.  Jeff Vincent followed with a hit to right.  Both runners advanced on a ground out Michael Campbell.  Charlie Lisk followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Malone.  The run made it 2-1.  It stayed that way until the eighth.

Stephen Holdren and newcomer Ricky Owens had the only other hits for the Grizzlies.  Owens was acquired in a trade with Kalamazoo earlier in the day.