Tigers spank Colgan in five

NEVADA, Mo. -- Cody Thompson drove in four runs and Jerrod Alexander added three RBIs as the Nevada Tigers improved to 2-0 with a 12-2 win over St. Mary's Colgan out of Pittsburg, Kan., Wednesday.

The Tigers scored all four times they came to bat, collecting nine hits and taking advantage of eight walks.

Starter James Tumm (1-0) scattered four hits in four innings, giving up only a single run to collect the win.

"We fielded well, threw strikes and put the ball in play," Nevada head coach Jared Brown said.

The Tigers took advantage of early wildness by Colgan starter Evan Van Becelaese in the first inning. Van Becelaese walked the first three Nevada hitters and two of them scored as Kyle Hughes and Alexander had consecutive RBI groundouts.

Nevada struck again in the second inning, getting the bats more involved this time.

Nick Righter walked leading off and went to second on an errant pick off throw. Ben Fisher drove Righter in with a double to the left field fence for a 3-0 lead.

Fisher went to third on a wild pitch, and Jordan Kerbs walked for the second time. After Kerbs stole second and Colby Shepherd grounded out, Thompson hit a two-run single to right for a five-run lead.

Hughes singled, moving Thompson to third, then stole second to keep the pressure on Colgan. Alexander drove both runners in with another single and the Tigers led 7-0 after two.

Colgan finally got on the board in the third. Stuart Jeck singled up the middle and stole second. Kenny Wachter then drove a double down the right-field line to make it 7-1. A walk and a single later and the Panthers were looking to get back into the game but Tumm induced a ground ball to second to end the threat. It was the closest thing to a rally Colgan would get all game.

The Tigers got that run back and then some in their half of the third.

Righter singled to right with one out. Fisher followed with his second hit of the game to put runners at first and second. Kerbs struck out looking for the second out but Shepherd followed with an RBI double to right-center. Thompson drove Shepherd and Fisher in with a single to left-center and the Tigers led 10-1.

Nevada went up 12-1 with a pair in the fourth, as Kerbs drove in Ronnie Herda and Righter with a single up the middle. Herda had reached on an error and Righter walked, with Kerbs coming through after a walk by Fisher loaded the bases.

Colgan added an unearned run in the fifth, but Nevada kept the 10-run margin for the victory via mercy rule.

The Panthers were playing their first game of the season, coming off three straight Kansas class 1A-2A state championships.

"It was their first game, I imagine they had some jitters," Brown said.

The Tigers open Southwest Conference play Thursday in Carthage.