Eight-run third propels Mudcats past Griffons, 10-8

It's been a long past couple of days for the beleaguered Nevada Griffons' pitching staff.

Having dropped three consecutive contests, and seven of their past nine, Griffons' pitchers have yielded an average of 9.3 runs per contest the past six games — which includes Monday's 10-8 MINK League home loss to the Chillicothe Mudcats.

The three-game losing skid moves Nevada to 8-14 overall.

Known for their early inning offensive exploits, the Griffons once again broke out in the first inning, touching up Mudcat starting pitcher Brandan Van Buren for four runs on five hits — highlighted by run-scoring singles off the bats of Dom Hernandez, Chase Beiter, and Jake Mueller.

Nevada scratched across a run in the second, via back-to-back triples by Brayland Skinner and the scorching hot Hernandez, and led 5-0.

After allowing just one hit through his first two innings of work, Nevada starting pitcher Aaron Hassell was running on empty by the third.

Hassell, of Midland University in Nebraska, was battered to the tune of six runs on seven hits, as the Mudcats jumped in front, 8-5.

The eight-run frame was accentuated by Blaine Ray's hard-hit two-RBI double down the left field line, and Jack Grace's two-RBI single back up the middle.

The Griffons replied in the home-half of the third, as an Ian Jacobs' RBI-single, and Clint Allen's RBI fielder's choice groundout trimmed the deficit to 8-7.

Chillicothe (13-8) then tacked on a run apiece in the fifth and seventh, both plated by the sizzling Ray, and led 10-7.

Looking to close out the contest in the bottom of the ninth, Chillicothe relief pitcher Jack Albright opened the inning with a walk to Eli Harrison, and then issued a four-pitch free pass to Mueller.

Albright briefly regrouped, inducing flyouts of pinch-hitter Griffin Larsen and Clint Allen — but then walked Skinner to loaded the bases.

Fresh off a two homerun, five RBI performance the night prior, Hernandez stepped to the dish a homerun shy of the cycle.

Locked into a tense battle, and with the count sitting at two balls and two strikes, Albright froze Hernandez with a breaking ball that appeared to be in the strike zone.

The home plate umpire felt otherwise, and a dejected Albright ultimately walked Hernandez, forcing in a run, and trimming the deficit to 10-8.

Still in a tight spot with the bases loaded, Albright managed to close out the contest, as third baseman Lane Marlow popped out to the catcher in foul territory.

"We battled for nine innings, we just came up short at the end," said first-year Griffons' head coach Will Loza. "We gave up a big inning where they got back into the game and took the lead."

Added Loza of Chillicothe's eight-run third: "It was kind of tough to come back from that, to lose all the momentum. Unfortunately, we just didn't have enough innings left in battling back there."

Loza indicated he was intent on receiving "four or five" innings of work from Hassell.

"Just where we are with our pitching staff, I would have liked to have gotten four or five out of him," noted Loza. "His pitch count got up that inning, and that's really why I pulled him. It got to where it was just too much for him. You could tell he just didn't have it, he was missing bats, and that's why I had to pull him there."

Said Loza: "I don't think (Hassell) had his best stuff tonight, and it's tough to win when you don't have your best stuff. He battled as long as he could for us, gave us a shot and kept us close — it just wasn't close enough, unfortunately."

At the dish for Nevada, Hernandez upped his batting average to .394, finishing 3-for-5 with a trio of RBI, while Skinner concluded 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.

Ray, meanwhile, concluded 4-for-5, driving in four runs on the night.

The Griffons return to the diamond today, opening a four-game set with MINK South division rival Joplin Outlaws.

The first pitch for today's contest is slated for 7 p.m. from Joe Becker Stadium in Joplin.

The two squads return to the diamond on the Fourth of July, for an exhibition matchup at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, Arkansas — home of the Kansas City Royals' Double-A minor league affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Nevada and Joplin complete their four-game set Friday and Saturday night in Joplin.