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Late homer downs Tigers
By Joe Warren
Nevada Daily Mail
A solo home run in the top of the seventh inning broke a 2-2 tie and sent Neosho to a 3-2 victory over Nevada Thursday at Lyons Stadium.
Neosho Wildcat Paul Mitchell hit a blast to right with one out in the seventh that got caught up in the wind, sailing well over the fence and ending a three inning stalemate after Nevada had tied the game at 2 in the third.
The Tigers had evened the score after falling behind 2-0 on single runs in the second and third innings by Neosho.
In the bottom of the third Nevada got a leadoff walk from Jordan Kerbs, who scored on a double by Heath Baker to make it 2-1. Baker was driven in on a double by Cody Thompson to tie the score, but it was all the offense Nevada could muster.
The Tigers were held to four hits in the game, none after Mitchell took the mound in the fifth inning.
Nevada did threaten in the fifth, getting a two-out single from Baker and a walk from Keith Overton off starter Eric Smith.
Mitchell relieved and got Thompson to ground out to second base to end the inning.
Mitchell then proceeded to retire Nevada in order in the sixth and seventh innings, getting the job done at the plate and on the mound for Neosho.
Nevada was good on the mound as well, as Thompson started and lasted 6 1/3 innings giving up seven hits, three earned runs and three walks while striking out four.
Thompson struggled with his control most of the game, but battled. He had issued only five walks in 24 innings coming in to Thursday's game.
In the second inning Thompson's control problems led to Neosho's first run as Gabe Wyatt walked, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout.
After giving up a run on three singles in the third, Thompson settled down to retire 10 of the next 13 batters he faced before Mitchell homered in the seventh.
Thompson also swung the bat well as he went 2-for-3. Baker was the only other Tiger to collect a hit, also going 2-for-3.
Nevada looked as if they had a spark in the seventh inning as Chris Eador led off with a hot shot down the third-base line that trickled toward the Nevada bullpen, but the umpire called it foul on a very close play.
Eador was then retired on a fly ball to center, and Nevada was unable to rally.
"It's a game of inches sometimes," Nevada coach Jared Brown said. "We had balls just barely caught and some that almost went fair."
Brown was happy with Thompson's performance on the mound.
"He's just a battler," Brown said. "He's a good kid and a big time competitor."
Nevada dropped to 5-11 with the loss, 1-3 in the Southwest Conference. Neosho improved to 6-8, 1-2.
Nevada is scheduled to play at Fort Scott this afternoon, weather permitting. They will then be at McDonald County Monday and return home Tuesday to host Webb City.