Mistakes cost Nevada against Webb City

Nevada right fielder Jordan Kerbs squeezes a fly ball for an out during the second inning of Tuesday's game against Webb City at Lyons Stadium. Webb City won 9-1. [Click to enlarge]

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Tigers had one of those games Tuesday where things go wrong and the other team takes advantage of your mistakes.

Hosting Southwest Conference-leading Webb City at Lyons Stadium, Nevada put themselves in a 4-0 hole before collecting an out and were eventually beaten 9-1.

The game started with Webb City's Eric Clark hitting a grounder to Nevada short stop Justin Reed. Reed double-pumped on his throw to first, and the speedy Clark beat it out for an infield hit.

After Clark stole second, Webb City Cardinal pitcher Eli Dykens hit another to Reed, but the junior was unable to field it cleanly and with the error, the visitors had runners on the corners with nobody out.

Cardinals catcher Alec French popped one up in right-center field for what should have been an out, but miscommunication allowed the ball to drop the second error of the inning allowed Clark to score and Webb City took the lead.

A single by Josh Martin loaded the bases before Cardinals designated hitter Brandon Berry cleared them with a long double off the fence in left-center field.

After Nevada starter Cody Thompson walked Webb City's Bryce Allen, he settled down to retire the next three batters in order while keeping Webb City to only four runs.

In the second inning Webb City added to the lead with a single and stolen base by Clark. A wild pitch moved him to third where he was driven in on a fielder's choice by French two batters later.

In the third Webb City scored again when Chris Endicott doubles, stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Keith Overton on the stolen base attempt.

Meanwhile, Nevada was hitless through three innings as Dykens, Webb City's ace, mowed down Tiger batters.

Dykens struck out five in the first three innings and ended up with 11 punchouts while only giving up three Nevada hits.

Nevada scored their lone run in the fourth inning when Cody Thompson scored on an error by French. Thompson had reached base on a walk, as Nevada actually had them loaded with one out. Overton singled, Thompson got on, then Reed was hit by a pitch as the Tigers mounted their only serious rally of the day.

David Hawks grounded into a fielder's choice at first as Overton was thrown out at home. Webb City tried to turn the double play as French threw back to first to get Hawks, but the throw went into right field and Thompson was able to put Nevada on the board.

Jordan Kerbs then grounded out to second to end the inning.

Overton ended up with two of Nevada's three hits, as he singled again to lead off the sixth. However he was picked off by Dykens and Nevada was unable to sustain any momentum from the hit.

Hawks led off the seventh with an infield single, but Dykens finished strong, striking out the next three Nevada batters in order to compete the game.

Dykens did not allow an earned run all game and only allowed one walk.

Nevada got good pitching from Thompson, who was victimized by his defense. Even so he gave up five earned runs in two innings of work, walking two and striking out two.

Freshman Jerrod Alexander did a great job in relief, throwing five innings and allowing eight hits, four runs -- only three of them earned --walking none and striking out five.

Nevada committed five errors on the day.

Nevada coach Jared Brown said mistakes were part of the game.

"It's tough," Brown said. "You've got peaks and valleys in a ballgame and we hit one of those valleys at the beginning.

"I was real proud of the boys. You have some unfortunate events and the you have to keep playing the game."

Brown was satisfied with his pitching Tuesday.

"Cody, I thought he threw the ball well. He did everything we ask him to. He threw strikes and let them put the ball in play.

"Jerrod did about the same thing, he threw strikes and we made plays behind him."

Brown said facing someone like Dykens was a tough draw.

"You have to credit their pitcher, that's their ace and he threw the ball well. You've just got to do the best you can against him," he said.

Webb City scored one run in the sixth and two more in the seventh as they finally seemed to solve Alexander.

Webb City hit three doubles in the seventh, as they put the game well out of reach.

Nevada dropped to 5-13 this season, 1-5 in conference play.

Webb City still remains undefeated in the conference through five games.

The Tigers will be in El Dorado Springs Thursday for a non-conference battle against the 12-4 Bulldogs.