First inning blues bring end to Nevada's season

Ben Compton lays down a sacrifice bunt during the fourth inning of Monday's district playoff game against Carthage. Carthage beat Nevada 3-1, ending the Tigers' season. [Click to enlarge]

Nevada Daily Mail

CARL JUNCTION, Mo. -- A two-out single in the first inning isn't supposed to be the defining moment in a seven-inning baseball game, but it was Monday as the Carthage Tigers clipped the Nevada Tigers 3-1 in Class 3, District 12 baseball action.

Jerrod Alexander throws from his knees after fielding a grounder during the first inning. The throw was good but the batter beat it out for an infield single, and was one of three players to score in an otherwise flawless outing for Alexander. [Click to enlarge]

With the bases loaded and two down in the bottom of the first, Carthage's Colton Smith singled to left driving in a pair, and a third run scored when the ball got by left fielder Chase Domer to put Carthage up 3-0.

It was all the offense Carthage could muster against Nevada starter Jerrod Alexander, and it was all Carthage starter Kyle Wicklund needed.

Alexander pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits, three walks and a hit batter, while striking out two. The only problem inning was the first, where he allowed two singles, a walk and his lone HBP.

The first inning proved key to Nevada offensively as well. The first two batters reached base when Jordan Kerbs walked and Colby Shepherd singled to center. But the next three hitters couldn't make contact as Wicklund struck out the heart of Nevada's order in Kyle Hughes, Jerrod Alexander and Ronnie Herda to escape the jam.

That the opening frame carried so much weight was a cruel twist of fate for the Tigers, who were coming into the contest having played only two games in 21 days because of weather.

"That's just the luck of baseball," Nevada head coach Jared Brown said. "It's just an unfortunate situation you've got to deal with."

While Nevada actually out-hit Carthage 5-4, the Crimson-clad couldn't put enough walks and hits together to push runs across. The only Nevada score came thanks to two Carthage errors in the third inning.

Jordan Kerbs reached on an error by Carthage first baseman Zach Mason with one out. Cody Shepherd followed with a ground out to short, but Kerbs advanced all the way to third on the play. In an ill-advised attempt to get Kerbs at third base by Mason went into left field and Kerbs scored on the play to make the score 3-1.

The unearned run was all Wicklund allowed in five innings of work. The junior righty gave up three hits in the outing, walking three and striking out four. Junk ball reliever Dylan Samuelson struck out four in two innings of relief for Carthage.

Nevada actually had runners in scoring position in every inning but the second. Following a season-long trend, the Tigers went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position Monday.

Notes: The Tigers played Monday's game without senior all-conference performer Cody Thompson, who was suspended for the game for disciplinary reasons. Thompson, who is Nevada's pitching ace, also was their top hitter this season batting around .470. ... The season ends for Nevada with a 5-10 record. Carthage plays Webb City in the district semifinals today in Carl Junction.