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Nevada slaps error-prone Larks
By Joe Warren
Herald-Tribune
NEVADA, Mo. -- The Nevada Griffons took advantage of three Hays errors to score four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, erasing a 3-0 deficit on their way to a 9-5 victory over the Larks in Jayhawk League action Friday.
The Griffons sent eight batters to the plate and only needed two hits to take a 4-3 lead after being shut down for six innings.
The offense came alive, scoring five times on five hits in the eighth to put the game away as they took the opener of the four-game series.
"At least we took advantage of their mistakes," Nevada head coach John Hill III said. "When they started making errors we kept the pressure on them."
The Larks had taken a 3-0 lead on a pair of home runs in the second and sixth innings.
Charlie Kingrey homered to right-center in the second with Dan Stovall on base to put the Larks up by two.
Dallas Christison smashed a solo shot to left in the sixth as the Griffons searched for their first hard hit ball off Hays starter Cliff Springston.
The first solid hit of the game came when Scott Dunwoody singled with runners on second and third in the seventh for Nevada's first run of the game.
The hit scored Kyle Mach, who had reached on a fielding error by Hays third baseman Eric Lawson.
Shawn Taylor went to third on Dunwoody's line-drive to left, after he had reached on a throwing error by Springston on a bunt attempt.
Hill said that play was key in the rally.
"One thing that really sticks out before we took the lead was Shawn. He laid down that bunt, and it wasn't perfect but it put pressure on their pitcher and he threw it away," Hill said.
Taylor was officially credited with a sacrifice but he was safe as Springston's throw went over the first baseman's head and into the Hays bullpen, moving Mach to third and Taylor to second.
"After that happened, the pitcher kind of came unglued and the rest of the team started following suit," Hill said.
Dunwoody's single left runners on the corners with one out and Nevada down 3-1.
A wild pitch moved Dunwoody into scoring position, even though Taylor stayed at third on the play.
Josh Barnett then grounded a ball to Hays second baseman Ross Brezovsky, but it went through his legs and into center field for the third error of the inning.
Taylor and Dunwoody scored to tie the game at three.
Barnett stole second and Tony Lewis singled to left to score him with the go ahead run as Nevada led for the first time in the game.
The Griffons tacked on five more in the eighth as the offense really started clicking against reliever Reed Woytek.
Matt Wagner grounded out to start the inning but Nevada followed with eight consecutive productive at bats to score five runs.
Designated hitter Justin Ellrich got things going with a single. He was lifted for pinch runner Peter Tountas and Mach doubled to left-center field to score Tountas from first.
Taylor slapped an infield single in the hole at short to put runners on the corners.
Dunwoody hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Mach and moving Taylor to second on the throw home.
Kenny Price singled up the middle and Taylor scored to make it 7-3. Barnett singled and Lewis walked to load the bases. Matt Wulfers hit a routine ground ball to Brezovsky but he booted it for his third error of the game, allowing Price and Barnett to score and the Griffons led by six.
The Larks made a little noise in the ninth off Nevada closer John Christian, getting solo homers from Kingrey and Brezovsky to set the final margin at 9-5.
"Once you get into their pen, they don't have a whole lot," Hill said of the Larks. "I'm glad the fans stuck around and gave us a chance."
Nevada had their largest crowd of the season at Lyons Stadium as 374 fans attended LPL Financial Night, with free admission, free ice cream and giveaways the entire game.
Notes: Hays committed five errors in the game. ... Starter Dustin Renfrow lasted seven innings for the victory, allowing seven hits and three runs. ... The Griffons improved to 14-17 overall, 6-15 in the league. Hays is now 21-10, 15-10. ... The Griffons won the opener of a four game series for the first time all season. They had been 0-3 in openers. ... The win was Nevada's first over the Larks, as Hays swept the four game set in Hays. ... The teams played a doubleheader Saturday and wrap up the season set with a single game today. ... Springston had allowed one hit going into the seventh inning. Hays outhit Nevada 10-8. ... Nevada wasn't credited with any errors in the game.