Chicago, Ill.- June 10- Seven runs off four total home runs contributed to the high scoring game that came down to the wire.

The MCL Minutemen (3-6) fell to the Chicago American Giants (4-3) 17-14 in a nail biter tonight at Gouwens Park. The Minutemen came out swinging, scoring five runs in the first inning. 

Two straight walks and a single to start the game would set up Doug Loden (Joliet JC/ St. John, Ind.) for success with a base hit that would score a run. Ryan Nelson (Eastern Kentucky/ Aurora, Ill,) then followed up that hit with a base hit of his own with the bases loaded to score in another run. A hit by pitch taken from Jason Daniels (Waubonsee/ Hammond, Ind.) would score another run. Brennan Brogni (Illinois Springfield/ Flagstaff, Ariz.) took four balls, allowing another run to come in. Nelson then came in off a wild pitch for the fifth run of the inning. The American Giants would come back in the bottom of the inning to score two runs.

Loden put on a hitting clinic for the Minutemen. The next inning, Loden would smack his first home run, and the team’s second into left field for their sixth run. In the fourth, Loden would hit a sac fly to score Alphonzo Franks (Southeastern Illinois, Munster, Ind.).

Manager Deandre Gilmore said after yesterday’s loss that the biggest issue was leaving guys stranded on base, and not scoring in enough runs as a result. The Minutemen were able to manufacture 14 runs and fix what Gilmore wanted them to do to be successful. Unfortunately, the American Giants went on a tear, scoring two or more runs every inning from the third inning on, including a three run home run in the eighth inning to seal the deal. The Minutemen were up the whole game until that moment, losing in the end for their third straight loss. 

The Minutemen will get an off day tomorrow, then head to Irving Park to take on the Northwest Indiana Oilmen for the second time this season at 5:05 pm. Follow @MclMinutemen on Twitter to keep up with all the latest Minutemen news and updates, and follow @MCLMinutemen on Facebook to catch the live streams of every game.