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Defensive lapses plague Tigers in season-opening loss to Clinton, 11-5
The Nevada Tigers dropped an error-riddled season-opener, 11-5, to the visiting Clinton Cardinals on Tuesday at Lyons stadium.
“This looked like a season-opener,” said Nevada head coach Danny Penn. “We looked like a team going out there for the first time. We had some physical mistakes, and some mental mistakes, that we had talked about in practice.”
“We’ve gone through those situations,” added Penn. “But, the first time with the lights on, and playing against another team, that just speeds everything up.”
Clinton jumped on top 1-0 in the top of the first, as an infield throwing error resulted in Cardinals shortstop Ricky Clifton scoring from second.
Nevada’s best inning of offense came in the home-half of the first, as Logan Bradley’s bloop-single to right field loaded the bases with one out.
The Tigers went in front, 2-1, via senior first baseman Peyton Denney’s single to left, scoring Grant Miller and Dalton Gayman.
Nevada blew a golden opportunity to tack on to its lead, as a mistake on the base-paths resulted in an inning-ending double-play.
Nevada starter, Gayman, a 6-foot-5 southpaw, walked the leadoff batters in the first and second innings, and exhibited some control issues, with a number of early-inning wild pitches.
An error in the second, charged to Nevada second baseman Jonah Brus, led to Clinton knotting the contest, 2-2. Gayman was unable to escape the inning without further damage, as Clifton’s check-swing blooper into right handed the Cardinals a 3-2 advantage.
After a rocky opening frame Clinton starter Matt Poling settled into a groove, striking out the side in the bottom of the second.
After opening the third with another leadoff walk, his fourth free-pass of the contest, Gayman was replaced on the hill by starting right fielder Grant Miller.
“We’ve talked to our pitchers about the importance of strike one, working ahead in the count,” began Penn. “Because that allows you to dictate how you’re going to approach the at-bat. And, if you don’t work ahead, then unfortunately, you pretty much have to throw fastballs. The hitter knows what’s going on, and that puts you at a disadvantage.”
Added Penn of Gayman’s season-opening debut: “He was battling command issues. First inning, I think it was some nerves. The second inning, he kind of settled down a little. Then, we had situations where his defense didn’t make a play behind him.”
Miller, who inherited a runner, quickly found himself in a bases-loaded, no-out jam. As had been the case through the first two innings, another infield error allowed a Cardinal to cross home plate, as Clinton led, 4-2.
J.R. Loyd dropped a picture-perfect bunt down the third base line, re-loading the bases. Jack Lankford followed with a suicide squeeze bunt, plating a run.
Ben Collins then pushed home another run with a safety squeeze, increasing the Clinton lead to 6-2.
“They got us with some small-ball stuff,” lamented Penn. “They had a suicide squeeze and a safety squeeze. Both times, the coaching staff in our dugout tried to alert our infield to be ready for it, and we just didn’t react fast enough.”
Gayman, who moved to center field after the pitching change, trimmed Nevada’s deficit to three in the third, scoring from third on a Poling wild pitch.
Clinton tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth, with the first coming on Lankford’s RBI-sacrifice fly to deep center. Dalton Phillips then scored on a 2-out infield throwing error, as the Cardinals took an 8-3 lead.
Poling, meanwhile, was dealing, setting down the Nevada side in order in the fourth and fifth innings.
Clinton broke the game wide-open in the sixth, with three more Cardinals crossing home plate. A successful double-steal resulted in the inning’s first run, and a 9-3 Clinton lead.
Making his varsity pitching debut, Nevada sophomore Elijah Nadurata replaced Miller with two outs in the sixth. Nadurata inherited a dicey situation with runners on the corners, and was unable to contain the damage, as Lankford’s 2-RBI liner to left swelled Clinton’s advantage to 11-3.
Nadurata notched his first career varsity base-hit in the sixth, and scored the second of Nevada’s two runs in the inning, as the Tigers sliced the deficit to the final 11-5 margin.
The non-conference victory moves Clinton to 1-3 on the young season, while Nevada drops to 0-1.
The hard-throwing Poling picked up the victory, tossing 5 2/3 innings, while yielding two earned runs and striking out six.
“Some of our batters did a good job of being selective early in the count, looking for a pitch they liked,” began Penn. “Others got in, and swung at the first pitch. We didn’t do a great job of thinking through at-bats.
“For instance, if we had a 2-0 count — we’re looking for a pitch that we think we can drive, and hit hard. And some of those 2-0 swings that we took looked like we were not ready for the pitch that came. In that situation we want our batters to lay off, and not swing at what we call a ‘pitchers’ pitch’, and get ourself out on that pitchers’ pitch.”
Continued Penn: “We took three or four called third-strikes, with two of them in high-leverage situations. It just seemed like in certain situations, multiple times today, we didn’t look like we were ready for the pitch that came.
“Whether it was not getting our barrel through the strike zone, or just being tardy on a pitch. Where, if you’re looking for it, you should be ready, and on-time to drive it.”
Gayman was saddled with the loss, striking out four and walking four over two frames of work. A high pitch count (53) also contributed to Gayman’s early exit.
Penn discussed Miller and Nadurata’s performances on the mound.
“I thought Grant threw well,” said Penn of the junior’s 58-pitch long-relief appearance. “He threw strikes, but the defense made some mistakes behind him, didn’t back him up like we would want them to.
“It was good for Elijah to get his first varsity experience. Hopefully, that allows him the next time he goes out there to just relax. The butterflies are gone, and he can focus 100 percent on hitting the glove, and executing his pitches. I thought he made some really good pitches. And, as you would expect with a sophomore making his varsity debut, there were some times when his mechanics got out of whack, and he was caught in the moment a little bit.”
At the dish for Clinton Lankford drove in four runs, while Bradley collected a pair of hits for Nevada.
Summed up Penn: “We talked with the team postgame, about how nobody on the field had a perfect day defensively. Everybody, unfortunately, kind of contributed to some of the sloppiness. So, everybody’s got room to improve and get better. And, that’s what we’re going to ask them to do as we move forward. It’s going to take more ‘focused’ reps in practice.”
Up next
A non-conference road clash with the undefeated Joplin Eagles (3-0). First pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m., Thursday.
Nevada then returns to Lyons Stadium on Friday, as the Tigers host Carthage. First pitch is again set for 4:30. See a future edition for all the latest