Craig Massey had three hits and four RBIs and Romeo Cortina and Nolan Earley each knocked in a pair of runs as the Southern Illinois Miners overcame an early 5-1 hole to out-slug the Freedom, 11-8, on Saturday in Florence, Kentucky.

Earley hit a sacrifice fly to score Craig Massey in the top of the first to put the Miners up, 1-0, but Florence countered with four runs in the bottom of the frame, and another unearned run in the second to up their lead to 5-1.

Earley homered in the third, and Massey and Cortina drove home runs in the fourth to cut the deficit to 5-4, but Florence tacked on two more in that inning and another in the bottom of the sixth to lead 7-4.

A bases-loaded walk in the seventh by the Miners' Anthony Critelli, followed by a single by Ryan Sluder set up Massey's bases-clearing double, giving Southern Illinois a lead they would not relinquish. Cortina added a sac fly to score Massey.

Brett Wiley added an insurance run for the Miners with a solo homer in the eighth inning. John Werner struck out the side in the ninth for the save.

The series is set to conclude with a 5:05 first pitch p.m. on Sunday.

Read more:

Miners out-slug Freedom for 11-8 victory - The Southern