Griffons win against Joplin Outlaws 10-9

In their fifth match up of the year, the Nevada Griffons beat the Joplin Outlaws for the fourth time in the 2022 MINK League season, with the final score being 10-9. “The bats certainly came through tonight when we needed them,” said Head Coach for the Nevada Griffons Mike Albin. “Pitching tonight was also stellar in this ball game. This is a great momentum for us, especially in the long haul.”

It wasn’t a pretty sight at first, as the Griffons were down six runs in the top of the first, til they rebounded back with two runs in the bottom of the second inning after #8 Sam Maywarren scored a two run home run. The score stayed the same until five more runs were scored by Nevada in the bottom of the sixth, which put them on top 7-6. Then more runs were scored by both teams in the later innings, until Nevada sealed the deal in the top of the ninth after a fly ball by Joplin with two outs was caught in center field, with the final score being 10-9.

Those 10 runs scored by the Griffons were done by the 37 at bats they had throughout the game. In those at bats, the Griffons had 13 hits, 10 RBI’s by #5 Jason Schneider (with three) , #4 Andrew Pickering, Manwarren (with three), Nicholas Martino, #10 Maximo DeLeon (with two), six walks, 10 strikeouts, and nine runners left on base. Manwarren scored two home runs to help out with the total runs Nevada scored in the ball game, and #11 Luke Piazza, #9 Nicholas Martino, and #12 Caleb Chance all hit doubles throughout the night.

No. 14 Grant Miller started on the mound for the Griffons Wednesday evening, and threw 90 pitches with 50 of them being strikes. Then #17 Richard Tomlinson (threw 23 pitches with 14 being strikes), #37 Sully Lane (threw 23 pitches and 12 strikes), #28 Tristan Jones (19 pitches thrown with 11 being strikes), and #20 Justin Agnor (31 pitches thrown with 19 being strikes) took their turn on the mound against the Outlaws throughout the 8 ½ inning game.

“Honestly I thought we played well tonight,” continued Coach Albin. “We're just trying to get guys in to get more reps on the field. We know we are going to need them down the stretch. I felt like when we got down early, we kept on playing hard. Those guys got in their roles and played well tonight by stepping up. In terms of what we are going to do forward, we are going to keep on what we are currently doing.” This Saturday July, 2nd, the now 9-16 Griffons will head to Chillicothe, Mo., to take on the Chillicothe Mudcats once again. In preparation for that game, Albin said, “Pitching has to prevail. If our pitching holds them down, then we have to trust our bats to do the right thing.”