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Griffons rally late in season-opener
By Jason Peake
Daily Mail Sports Editor
NEVADA -- It's not over 'til it's over.
The old adage rang true on Tuesday night at Lyons Stadium.
The Nevada Griffons rallied for three runs in the bottom of the ninth, and then won it in the 11th, knocking off the Midwest Nationals 6-5 in exciting fashion in the 2012 opener of the summer collegiate baseball season.
The Nationals led 5-2 as the Griffons came to bat in the bottom of the ninth. But the hosts rallied, taking advantage of a crucial throwing error and using an RBI double from John Ascenzia to tie the game.
Brad Wilson's double won it for the Griffons in the 11th, securing the come-from-behind walk-off win.
"It was good to see that, especially for the first game," Griffons Coach Ryan Mansfield said of the late rally. "I was worried there for awhile. But a win's a win."
A Jefferson City product, Wilson came up big at the plate and in the field late for the Griffons.
Before his RBI double, Wilson gunned down Midwest's Ethan Schlesener at third after a base-hit to wipe out the potential game-winning run in the top of the 10th.
"He came highly-recommended by his coach," Mansfield said of the Central Missouri sophomore. "He's a hard-nosed kid and he's a player. I'm just glad he's on our side."
The Midwest Nationals struck first, scoring one run on just one hit in the second against Griffons right-hander Nick Ford. Midwest's Ryan Rippee led off the inning with a triple to the fence in right-center. After a strikeout, Midwest's Josh Bunselmeyer hit an RBI groundout for a 1-0 lead.
The Griffons got on the board in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Eric Sousanes singled. After Matt Burns was hit by a pitch, the Griffons had two on. Next, AJ Krist hit a bloop into right field. Neither the right fielder nor the second baseman could get to it in time, as the ball dropped and two runs crossed the plate, giving the Griffons a 2-1 lead.
The Nationals went ahead in the top of the seventh against Nevada's Ron Johnson. Back-to-back singles by Schlesener and Kyle Baker started the frame. Corey Hassel then laid down a sac bunt, moving the runners to second and third. After an out, Spencer Johnson hit a little bloop into center that allowed both runners to score, giving the Nationals a 3-2 lead. The Griffons then got out of the inning.
The visiting Nationals added to their lead in the eighth. Back-to-back doubles by Rippee and Ryder Jones off Laurent Zenoni gave the Nationals a 4-2 lead.
Midwest tacked on another run in the top of the ninth on an RBI groundout from designated hitter Tyler Harris, scoring Luke Gibbs, who started the inning with a single and went to second on the throw in. The tally made it 5-2.
Things weren't looking too good for the Griffons at that point. Nevada was down to its final three outs in the bottom of the ninth. Facing Webb City product Breckin Williams, the Griffons loaded the bases without a hit, as MJ Sartin and Kevin Jovanovich both drew walks and Dave Richards was hit by a pitch.
Next, Wilson hit a grounder to third, the Nationals threw home for the force out, but Schlesener's throw to first sailed into right field, allowing two runs to score.
With that, the Griffons trailed 5-4. But Ascenzia lined an RBI double into the corner in right, scoring Wilson and tying the game at five. Nevada's Stu Jeck and Krist struck out to end the inning and the game went into extra innings.
In the 11th, Jovanovich walked and then Richards bunted him to second. That brought up Wilson, who drilled a Jones offering into straight-away center, easily over the head of Hassel. Jovanovich trotted home and the Griffons got the win.
Krist had two RBIs, while Ascenzia and Wilson had one apiece for the Griffons.
Coach Mansfield used a different pitcher in every inning.
"For the first time out, we just wanted to see what guys can do and what guys can't do," Mansfield said. "We went pitcher by-committee tonight."
Chris Mullins (Nebraska-Omaha) earned the win, pitching the 11th.
Notes: The hosts had their chances on numerous occasions. In fact, the Griffons stranded runners in scoring position in the first, fifth, sixth and eighth innings.
Based in Springfield, the Nationals are an 18 and under team of recent high school graduates.
Mansfield said 26 players reported this past weekend, with several more on the way soon.
Next: The Griffons will open MINK League play on Friday and Saturday nights at home against Ozark. Both dates start at 7 p.m.
Despite the win, Mansfield said his team still has work to do.
"I'm not satisfied yet," he said. "We've got a ways to go, but I saw some good things tonight. It's a long summer. Hopefully we continue to get better."
Tuesday's result: Griffons 6, Nationals 5
MW 010 000 211 00 -- 5 13 2
GR 002 000 003 01 -- 6 8 1
WP: Mullins. LP: Jones.
Griffons leaders-- 2B: Ascenzia, Krist, Sartin, Wilson. RBI: Krist, Ascenzia, Wilson. SF: Solar. SB: Sousanes.
Nevada Griffons boxscore
AB R H RBI
Sousanes 1 1 1 0
Ascenzia 2 0 1 1
Burns 2 1 0 0
Jeck 2 0 0 0
Krist 5 0 2 2
Hepworth 4 0 0 0
Kregeloh 2 0 0 0
Samuelson 3 0 0 0
Beloff 2 0 0 0
Sartin 2 0 1 0
Bessett 2 0 0 0
Jovanovich 1 2 0 0
Richards 3 1 1 0
Solar 1 0 0 0
Wilson 3 1 1 1