Nevada Griffons split with Ozark at home

Monday, June 24, 2013
Nevada's Matt Hilston connects for a single during the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Ozark Generals at Lyons Stadium.

By Eric Wade

Daily Mail Sports Editor

Just one day after finishing a four-game road trip, the Nevada Griffons made their return to Lyons Stadium to take on the Ozark Generals in a MINK League doubleheader, with a shot at regaining the South Division lead outright.

Nevada's Cal Hogan connects for an infield single during Saturday's win over the Ozark Generals.

The Griffons tied the Sedalia Bombers for the division lead after finishing that road trip with a 3-0 victory at Joplin on Friday. In that contest, Sam Hilliard shut down the Outlaws' offense in a six-inning effort on the mound in which he allowed six hits with four strikeouts and a walk to take the win -- his third in as many decisions this season.

The Griffons plated a run in the third and two more in the fifth to take the victory. Alex Lang led the Griffons with two hits and two runs scored, while Tanner Glore finished the night with two RBIs.

The first game of the night on Saturday got off to a far different start. Through the first three innings of the seven-inning contest, it looked as though Generals starter Jacob Lawrence would be able to shut the Griffons down completely.

Nevada's Trent Keefer pitches during Saturday's win over the Ozark Generals.

His squad took advantage of that dominance on the mound in the second inning, plating the game's first run on a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of Justin Lois. That brought home Jacob Garrison to give the Generals a 1-0 lead.

It didn't take the Griffons long to break through, however, as Lawrence began to struggle in the home half of the fourth. Lawrence left the game after the Griffons tied the game on Jack Goihl's sacrifice fly to left that brought in David Chew.

When Lawrence left the game, the Griffons had one runner on base in Michael Douglas and he ultimately came around to score on a bases-loaded walk from Matt Jackson to Griffons first baseman Marcus Ethan, putting Lawrence on the hook for the loss.

The Griffons went on to plate one more run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to take the victory by a final score of 6-1.

Griffons starter Trent Keefer went the distance for head coach Ryan Mansfield's squad, allowing just one unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks in seven innings. Ethan, Chew and Cal Hogan each had two hits in the contest, while Hogan and Chew each finished with two RBIs.

Things didn't go nearly as well for the Griffons in the nightcap, as the Generals had little trouble getting to Nevada starter Steve Danielak. The Griffons, however, couldn't seem to find any answers for what Generals starter Andy Flett was throwing at them and didn't find the scoreboard until the sixth inning in a 5-3 defeat.

The Generals put up the game's first two runs in the first inning as Danielak allowed a two-run home run to Ozark's Payton Reed -- the second round-tripper Danielak has allowed this season. The Generals followed that with one more run in the third and two more in the fifth, all of which were charged to Danielak.

The Griffons attempted to put together a late rally in the sixth inning when Douglas knocked in Brandon Downs with a one-out single. Two more runs crossed the plate just one batter later when Michael Sterling drove in Douglas and Clint Wobbe with a two-run double.

That was where the rally ultimately ended, however, and the Generals held on to take the two-run victory.

Flett took the victory for the Generals, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on four hits with three strikeouts in six innings of work. Danielak took the loss for the Griffons, allowing five earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.

Next on the schedule for the Griffons is Tuesday, when they head back out on the road to take on Joplin. First pitch in this contest is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Griffons 6, Monarchs 4

The Nevada Griffons finished out a three-game home set Sunday, with their first non-league game of the year against the Kansas City Monarchs.

The Monarchs got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but the Griffons wasted little time getting both of those runs back and more on their way to a 6-4 victory. Connor Rutz got the win for the Griffons, allowing two runs -- one earned -- on four hits in three innings.

Three Griffons finished the night with three hits each as Nevada had a total of 19 as a team.

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