Streaking Griffons hang on for win

Wednesday, June 11, 2003

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Nevada Griffons outhit their Jayhawk League opponent 11-4, but had to hang on to edge the Topeka Capitals in a 3-2 win on Monday. Aggressive baserunning, perhaps a bit overly aggressive, negated several Griffons' scoring opportunities. Two runners were thrown out at the plate, one at third base and two more were picked off. The Griffons stranded 11 baserunners. Another strong pitching performance by three hurlers highlighted Nevada's third-straight victory. Starter Mike Zagurski (1-0) went seven solid innings for the win, allowing three hits and one run. He struck out 12 and walked four. Evan Burgess pitched one shutout inning in relief and Kyler Pomeroy pitched the ninth, allowing one run on one hit, for the save. Pomeroy struck out two, the last two hitters he faced, to set the Capitals down with the tying and winning runs aboard. Nevada (5-1, 1-0) fell behind early as the Capitals scored one in the second on Kyle Dahlberg's double. The Griffons bounced back to plate three in the third. Eric Horstman reached on a three-base error by the Capital's left fielder. Newcomer Kirk McConnell, a sophomore outfielder from the University of Arkansas, walked, then stole second. McConnell went 3-for-3 in his Griffons' debut. Kevin Bills added to his team-leading RBI total (12) with a single to score Horstman, tying the game at 1-1. The next batter Greg Kish, who took over the team batting lead with a 2-for-4 night to finish at .471, bounced a fielders-choice grounder to short. McConnell was thrown out at the plate, while Bills advanced to third. Left fielder Dwayne White singled home Bills. On the play, Kish was thrown out at third base. After stealing second, White scored on a Capital error to send the Griffons up 3-1. Topeka pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to narrow the margin to 3-2, but Pomeroy ended any hopes of a comeback with the two huge strikeouts to end the contest. Griffons vs. Slashers OZARK, Mo. -- On Tuesday night, the Griffons (6-1) extended their win streak to four with a 15-0 thumping of the Springfield Slashers in a non-league game. The game was called after seven innings due to lightning. The Griffons return home to entertain the Topeka Capitals in a Jayhawk League contest at Lyons Stadium tonight at 7 p.m.

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