Miners hand Capahas first loss

Southeast Missourian

WICHITA, Kan. -- The Plaza Tire Capahas managed only five hits and dropped their first game at the NBC World Series 6-2 to the Mat-Su Miners out of Alaska on Thursday.

Playing in their second straight late-night affair, the game began at 12:30 a.m., the Capahas simply could not stop the Miners' offense. Mat-Su stranded five runners in the first three innings before getting to Capahas starter Matt Stroup for three runs in the fourth inning.

Nick Kliebert had the big hit for the Miners in the fourth with a one-out, bases-clearing double. The score remained 3-0 until the top of the sixth.

Seth Hudson started the inning for Plaza Tire with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Eric Horstman moved Hudson over to third with a one-out single. With Horstman at second and Hudson on third with two outs, a wild pitch and an error brought both runners home.

The Caps stranded a runner in a runner in both the seventh and eighth innings, before the Miners put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Horstman led the Caps with two hits.

Stroup took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits in four innings. Jon Nourie pitched the final four innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

The Capahas will try to keep their World Series hopes alive today with an 8 a.m. meeting with the Newton Rebels of Kansas.