Marion, IL - The Southern Illinois Miners totaled 15 hits in their 8-2 win over the Rockford RiverHawks at Rent One Park on Wednesday night.  Miners starter Shawn Gilblair pitched well in earning his ninth win of the season.  He threw six innings and allowed two runs.  He gave up eight hits, four walks and struck out six.  
 
The Miners jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning off RiverHawks starter Kyle Lindquist as Chad Maddox hit a sacrifice fly to score Alvaro Ramirez and Gerardo Avila hit a base hit to bring in Jake Kaase.  The RiverHawks scored a run in the top of the third inning off Shawn Gilblair when left fielder Michael Hur hit a sacrifice fly with no outs to make it a 2-1 game.  
 
The Miners added more off Lindquist in the bottom of the third inning.  Gerard Avila hit a double and a RBI to give the Miners a 3-1 lead.  Avila moved to third base on a wild pitch by Lindquist and scored on a balk by Lindquist to give the Miners a 4-1 lead. Lindquist pitched two innings and gave up four runs off eight hits.  The RiverHawks brought the game within two runs as first baseman Evan Button hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the fourth inning off Gilblair to make it a 4-2 game.  
 
The Miners scored four runs off RiverHawks reliever Nelson Curry in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 8-2 lead.  Carlos Mendez hit a base hit and RBI to score Gerardo Avila.  Chris Anderson hit a sacrifice fly off Curry to score Ken Gregory and Will Block added a base hit and RBI.  RiverHawks reliever Tyree Hayes came in with two outs and gave up a base hit and RBI to Alvaro Ramirez.  Hayes pitched 1.1 innings and gave up two hits and recorded a strikeout.  
 
RiverHawks relievers Jordan Goldschmidt and Dylan Brammer each pitched a scoreless inning.  Miners relievers Reese McGraw and Darrin Tew also pitched scoreless innings.  Brandon Cunniff closed out the game in the top of the ninth to give the Miners a 8-2 win.  
 
The Miners improved to 43-31 on the season and trail Traverse City by four games in the Eastern Divison.  The Miners look for the series win tomorrow night at Rent One Park as they send RHP Cody Hall to the mound who is a perfect 6-0 on the season.  First pitch is at 7:05.
 
From: SouthernIllinoisMiners.com