Griffons split double-header with Dusters, 10-9, 2-3

Sunday, June 29, 2003

The Nevada Griffons kicked off Parents Weekend activities Friday evening by splitting a double-header with the Elkhart Dusters at Lyon Stadium, boosting their season record to 16-6 overall and picking up their first home loss of the season. The 250-plus fans and parents were treated to a homerun fest with six homers between the two teams in game one, including a special Parents Weekend homerun by Kevin Bills and the ejection of Griffons head coach Daryl Bird during game two. The Dusters shortstop Josh Asanovich grabbed the first homerun of the night in the first inning, driving in one base runner as well, and Brad Miller added two more runs with a double down the third base line, driving in two more runs for a 4-0 lead. Ryan Lilly, Elkhart's centerfielder, picked up the second homer of the night in the top of the second inning taking them to a 5-0 lead. In the Griffons' half of the second inning Brandon Green hit a triple to left center field and Brian Bugg walked, setting the stage for Bills who hit a fly ball deep into right field where Elkhart's Kiel Holman settled under it for what seemed to be an easy out. Holman, who appeared to be several feet inside the fence reached up and grabbed the ball only to watch it bounce up and over the fence giving Bills the third home run of the game and driving in two runs to narrow the Dusters lead to 5-3. "I thought I hit it well enough for it to go out. But I'll take it anyway I can get it," Bills, who leads the Griffons with five home runs, said. A third inning double and a wild pitch put Griffons Eric Horstman on third base where a single by Chad Steele sent Horstman across the plate. Brandon Green picked up the fifth homer of the night driving in Steele to give the Griffons runs five and six for their first lead of the night. A fourth inning single by Elkhart's catcher Dave Baker and Ryan Lilly's second home run of the night put the Dusters back in front 7-6. The Griffons added run number 7 to tie the game in the fifth inning. In the top of the seventh inning Ben Jones, the Dusters DH, picked up the sixth home run of the night and drove in a second run to take a 9-7 lead. When the Griffons came to bat for the final time, Kirk McConnell and Chad Steele got on base with singles. Clay Goodwin hit a fly to right center field to get on base. An error by the Dusters shortstop sent Steele to third and let McConnell score to cut the lead to one run. A sacrifice fly by Brandon Green let Steele score and put Goodwin on third. Greg Kish, batting for Brian Bugg hit a single, sending Goodwin across the plate for a final score of 10-9. The second game of the night got off to a slow start with neither team scoring until the third inning when the Elkhart Dusters picked up three runs. Mike Sullivan walked and Chris Williams hit to second base and was thrown out at first. Ben Jones walked and a fielder's choice put Josh Asanovich on first to load the bases. Griffons pitcher Ty Hanson walked Ryan Lilly sending Sullivan home giving the Dusters a 1-0 lead. A wild pitch by Hanson let Jones score and moved Lilly to second and Asanovich to third. Kiel Holman walked to load the bases again. The Griffons brought Mark Culp in to replace Hanson as pitcher, however, Matt Yost hit a fly to Josh Thomas in centerfield who threw to third for the third out, however, Asanovich beat the throw home to give the Dusters a 3-0 lead. The Griffons remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the catcher Brian Hastings walked and Kirk McConnell hit a sacrifice bunt moving Hasting to second. Eric Horstman walked and Josh Thomas struck out for out number 2. Chad Steele hit a single toward second base and an error by the Duster's second baseman put Steele on second while Horstman and Hasting both scored cutting the Dusters lead to 3-2. Clay Goodwin ended the inning by striking out. In the bottom of the sixth inning Brandon Green hit a single to left field. Kevin Bills struck out and Greg Kish popped up to the shortstop for out number two. Brian Bugg came into the game to replace catcher Brian Hastings. Bugg laid down a bunt and was thrown out at first for the third out. However, Griffons head coach Daryl Bird questioned a call by one of the officials and the discussion turned into a heated argument that continued as they walked off the field ending in Bird's ejection from the game.

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