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Griffons sweep Generals, win ninth straight
"We are going to continue our course of action on the pinstripes until something drastic happens." The Nevada Griffons and head coach Ryan Mansfield have been wearing the same pinstripe uniforms for the past nine games and have yet to lose, thanks to defeating the Ozark Generals by a final score of 9-2 Wednesday night.
The Griffons came into the game just half a game up on the Sedalia Bombers for the MINK League South Division lead and were hoping to extend that lead and improve their season record to 6-0 over the Generals. That was just what Nevada did as they completed the season sweep in exciting fashion.
Nevada starter Nate Van Bibber (1-1) came into the night with an ERA of 4.08 on the year and was forced to work his way through an early jam that was not of his own making as his defense struggled to find their rhythm in the opening frame. A costly throwing error at first base gave the Generals two baserunners with just one out and they were quickly able to take advantage.
By the time Van Bibber was able to work his way out of the inning, the Generals had put up two unearned runs, to put the Griffons in an early 2-0 hole before they even got their first chance at the plate.
The Griffons quickly found themselves in a similar position as a catcher's interference call on Torin Lucas gave Nevada runners at first and second with nobody out. The Griffons once again took advantage of the two-out magic they have produced all season long as they quickly erased the Generals' lead with four consecutive hits.
By the time the rally came to an end, the Griffons had sent all nine hitters in their lineup to the plate and touched Ozark starter Kyle Wuestenfeld for four unearned runs to take a 4-2 lead heading into the top of the second.
Wuestenfeld struggled to find his control early in the game as he threw three wild pitches in the first two innings, along with hitting three Griffon batters. Of those three hit batters, two came in the first four hitters to come to the plate in the second inning, loading the bases with just one out.
Wuestenfeld eventually went on to record his second walk of the frame that gave the Griffons a run as Taylor House came home to score. That was enough for Generals manager Rusty Aton, and Wuestenfeld's day came to an end.
Wuestenfeld gave up the mound to Neosho County Community College left-hander J.R. Rehmann after allowing six runs on four hits with three walks and three hit batters in just an inning and a third of work. Rehmann retired the only two hitters he faced in the frame, sending the game to the top of the third inning with the Griffons leading by a score of 6-2.
Van Bibber was quickly able to find his rhythm after his somewhat rocky first inning and took control of the game. Between the second and fifth innings, Van Bibber allowed just two hits and was able to keep the Generals off the scoreboard as he faced just three over the minimum.
Rehmann held his ground for the remainder of his outing, retiring the first nine hitters he faced, quickly turning what looked in the beginning to be an offensive show into a pitchers' duel.
The Griffons were finally able to get to Rehmann in the bottom of the fifth as Matt Pitts and Joe Lincoln came up with the Griffons' first two hits since the opening frame. Pitts later came home to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Matt McLaughlin to give the Griffons a 7-2 lead heading to the sixth inning.
Rehmann's day on the mound came to an end in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing to a close what was a very strong day on the hill. Iowa Western right-hander Andrew Shalgren took over as Rehmann left the game after giving up just one run on two hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Matt Pitts was once again able to get the Griffons on the board in the bottom of the seventh inning as he knocked in his fourth and fifth runs of the game with a two RBI double to the alley in right center.
Shalgren left the game after hitting the next batter he faced, giving up the mound to Evan Kohli with a seven-run deficit.
That was the end of the scoring for the Griffons and they found themselves needing just six more outs for their ninth consecutive win as they headed into the eighth inning with a 9-2 lead. Van Bibber gave up the mound in the eighth inning to Ryan Parson, putting an end to a very strong day in which he allowed just two unearned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
Mr. Van Bibber kind of struggled through the first inning, but seven strong innings and giving up two runs, I can definitely live with that," Mansfield said. "Seven innings and no earned runs, that's not too bad."
The Griffons added their final run of the night in the bottom of the eighth inning Pitts knocked in his team-high sixth run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right.
"He (Pitts) has been struggling a little bit the last couple days, hit and miss," Mansfield said. "Some days he'll be just lights out and other days he'll swing and miss by three feet. Hopefully today he can get jump started again."
That was the end of the scoring for both clubs and the Griffons took the victory by a final score of 10-2.
With that win, the Griffons improve their record to 18-10 on the year, 17-9 in League play and thanks to the Bombers' 7-1 home loss to Topeka, open up a game and a half lead in the South Division heading into their off day today.
The Griffons are set to be back in action tomorrow as they square off against the Bombers at 7 p.m. "I'm excited to play them," Mansfield said.