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Griffons outlast Outlaws in virtual must-win game
The Nevada Griffons prevailed 10-9 in 10 innings picking up a desperately needed victory Tuesday night over the Joplin Outlaws.
The Griffons entered the home contest at Lyons Stadium two games back of the first place Outlaws and the idle Ozark Generals in the MINK League South Division. With the victory, Nevada (19-16 MINK League, 21-16 overall) pulls to within a game of Joplin, and a 1 1/2 games of Ozark.
Trailing 6-1 after the first inning, Joplin chipped away at its deficit, as an infield error in the top of the eighth scored Drew Tipton from third base to give the Outlaws a 9-8 lead.
Looking to bury Nevada in the MINK League South standings, Joplin tasked its closer, Brandon Saddler, to nail down the final six out of the game. Saddler entered the game as the MINK League equivalent of Kansas City Royals superstar closer, Wade Davis.
Saddler's numbers-to-date included 16 strikeouts over 13 2/3 scoreless innings, while not allowing a run and only walking one, to go along with six saves and a 2-0 record.
Saddler encountered some trouble in the eighth, issuing a leadoff walk to Trevor Peterson. A balk then advanced Peterson into scoring position. After a Tyler Pagano flyout to left-center field, Cole Johnson followed with a groundout to first base, moving Peterson over to third.
The inning, however, concluded when Tanner Wetrich popped out to third base, stranding Peterson 90 feet from home plate.
With some of its pitching staff having left the team in recent days, including closer Tyler Butcher, the Griffons relied on middle relief pitcher Matt Riney to pitch the ninth inning. Riney got the job done, setting down the side in order.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, the Griffons were staring down the possibility of falling three games back of the Outlaws with only seven remaining in the season.
Saddler quickly picked up the first two outs of the inning. Pinch-hitter Jaxxon Fagg then kept the game alive with a two out single.
Saddler, who appeared to have some control issues as he battled through the muggy conditions, walked Ethaniel Valdez to put runners on first and second for Kainulu Pitoy, who came through with a base hit, scoring pinch-runner Samuel Mitchell from second base to tie the game 9-9.
With Valdez representing the winning run at second base, Saddler escaped the inning with a strikeout of Peterson.
With its pitching staff somewhat depleted, Griffons head coach Ryan Mansfield made an unusual move, switching first baseman, Johnson, over to pitch to open the 10th inning as Judah Zickafoose moved from right field to first base.
In just his second appearance of the season, Johnson, after allowing a two-out double to Drew Tipton, induced an infield flyout of J.C. Santos to end the inning.
Facing a new Joplin pitcher in the bottom of the 10th, Trenton Moeller, Pagano led-off the inning by lacing a single up the middle. A Johnson groundout to the shortstop advanced Pagano into scoring position.
Stepping to the plate was Zickafoose, who back in the Griffons six-run first inning, mashed a two-run home run over the right field fence. Zickafoose again played hero, drilling a Moeller offering off the right field fence, as Pagano scored easily from second base, securing the 10-9 walk-off victory, while also keeping the Griffons in the hunt for a MINK League playoff berth.
For Nevada, starting pitcher Clayton Luley allowed seven runs over 5 2/3 innings of work. Johnson, who pitched the 10th, earned his first victory of the season.
At the dish, Pitoy was 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI; Zickafoose 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run; Johnson 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs; and Pagano 2-for-6 with two runs and an RBI. For Joplin, John Fleek was 6-for-6 with four RBIs and a run scored.
Up next
The Griffons hit the field tonight, resuming a suspended road game with the St. Joseph Mustangs. The first pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.
Nevada then returns home Thursday to face Chillicothe at 7 p.m.