Tigers trumped by Colgan

Nevada freshman starting pitcher Jerrod Alexander comes set during his stretch Wednesday at Lyons Stadium. Alexander pitched three shutout innings before being touched for four runs in the fourth as St. Mary's-Colgan defeated the Tigers 14-0. [Click to enlarge]

Nevada Daily Mail

A fourth-inning home run by St. Mary's-Colgan shortstop Bubba Lundy broke a scoreless tie and opened the flood gates as the Panthers cruised to a 14-0 victory over the Nevada Tigers Wednesday at Lyons Stadium.

The solo home run by Lundy led off the fourth and was the first of five hits in the inning as the Panthers went up 4-0 against Nevada starter Jerrod Alexander (0-1). From there the Panthers started pounding the ball. They scored two runs off back-to-back doubles and a pair of sacrifice flies in the fifth.

In the sixth inning the Panthers got a solo home run from Daniel Dellasega to go up 7-0.

The Panthers put an exclamation mark on the game with a seven-run seventh inning, highlighted by a three-run blast by Joe Curran.

When it was all over, the Panthers had 14 runs on 14 hits and no errors, an impressive line.

"We just have to take our hats off to their ball club," Nevada coach Jared Brown said. "After the fourth inning they really got after us."

Alexander, a freshman, had pitched remarkably well in the first three innings, allowing only two hits and walking two while keeping the defending Kansas Class 1A-2A state champs at bay.

"Jerrod did an excellent, excellent job coming in. He did everything we asked him to do," Brown said.

Alexander lasted four full innings before giving way to Heath Baker. Baker pitched 2 2/3 innings, before getting knocked out of the game with two down in the seventh.

James Tumm came in and got the final out for the Tigers.

At the plate Nevada's early-season struggles continued. For the second straight game, Nevada was held to only three hits. While they scored two runs in Monday's season opener, they were kept from pushing any runners across by the Panthers.

"I think the hitting will come around," Brown said. "We're struggling a little bit right now, but I've seen what the kids can do. They can do it."

David Hawks, Justin Reed and Keith Overton were the three Tigers who were able to collect hits off the stingy Colgan pitching.

The Tigers had a good chance to score in the second inning, when Overton led off with a single. Opie Tipton came in as a courtesy runner for Overton, and was caught stealing when he tripped halfway between first and second during his attempt.

The out proved costly as one batter later Hawks ripped a 1-1 pitch off the left-field fence for a two-out double. Colgan starter Jeff Smith then got Jordan Kerbs to strike out, ending the threat.

In the field the Tigers also struggled, particularly late in the game. Nevada committed five errors, three of them during Colgan's big seventh inning.

Fortunately Tigers do not have time to worry about their second loss to start the season, they travel to Carthage today for a game against the Southwest Conference rivals.

"The main thing is to keep our heads up," Brown said. "That's the beauty of baseball, you get to play again tomorrow."