Nevada Griffons split weekend games at home

Nevada's Jordan Taylor fields a grounder and throws to first for an out during Saturday's game against the Clarinda A's.

Nevada Daily Mail

With a forecast that included a steady diet of heavy rainfall and even a threat of severe weather, the chances of the Nevada Griffons baseball team getting either of its scheduled games in over the weekend, but by the time all was said and done, the weather held up and head coach Ryan Mansfield's squad was able to play both games.

The first of those two games came Saturday evening, when the Clarinda (Iowa) A's invaded Lyons Stadium. With just one win in seven games against MINK League opponents prior to Saturday's matchup, the A's entered the night hungry for a win, but that ultimately didn't turn out to matter, as the Griffons took the victory by a final score of 9-6.

Photos by Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail Nevada's Taylor Love connects for a home run in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Joplin Outlaws.

Clarinda starter Winston Lavendier held the Griffons at bay for the first five innings, allowing just one earned run on Cody Farrell's second home run of the season in the second inning. That was all the spark the A's needed, as they opened up a 6-1 lead with four runs in the second, one in the fourth and one in the fifth.

The Griffons were far from finished, however. Mansfield's squad was finally able to find its rhythm in the sixth inning, plating three runs on two hits and an error to pull within two, at 6-4.

The Griffons completed the comeback just one inning later, with four runs on two hits to take an 8-6 lead. The final run of the night came in the eighth inning, when Taylor Love scored on a Jordan Taylor single that was followed by an error.

Nevada's Jordan Taylor is out at home in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Joplin Outlaws.

Aaron Barteau got the win on the mound for the Griffons -- his first of the season -- after allowing just one hit with a walk and eighth strikeouts in four scoreless innings of work on the mound. Clarinda's Jason McDonald took the loss, allowing five runs -- four earned -- on just one hit with three walks in a third of an inning.

Farrell and Kurt Becker each finished the night with two hits and two RBIs to lead the Griffons' offense. Love added a pair of hits of his own and scored two runs in the contest.

Sunday's game against the Joplin Outlaws, as it was a far different story, however, and one the Griffons would like to forget. Nevada committed seven errors in a 9-6 loss on Church and Griffons Camp graduation night.

Four of Nevada's errors came in the first inning, helping the Outlaws send 10 batters to the plate and score six unearned runs. Joplin led, 9-2, after eight and a half innings, before the Griffons rallied with four runs to make the final score closer than the game really was.

John Boidanis led the Outlaws with three hits, including a solo home run and three RBIs. Love led Nevada with two hits, including his first homer of the season -- a solo shot in the fifth inning.

Joplin starter Chad Bradford pitched the first seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits to square his record at 1-1. Griffons starter Addison Russ went five innings, allowing eight runs -- six of which were unearned -- on eight hits.

He walked only one, while striking out six, also evening up his record at 1-1 on the year.

With the weekend's games, the Griffons' record moved to 5-4 on the season, 4-4 in MINK League play. Mansfield's squad is scheduled to be back in action Tuesday, taking on Sedalia.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m., at Liberty Park, weather and field conditions permitting.