Nevada Griffons split weekend games at home

Monday, July 8, 2013
Griffons third baseman Cal Hogan snags a ground ball behind third base in the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Chillicothe Mudcats.

The Nevada Griffons split a pair of game over the weekend against the Chillicothe Mudcats, at Lyons Stadium.

The two squads came into action Saturday night fresh off of an exciting matchup Friday in which the Griffons overcame a 9-3 deficit after six innings to take the victory by a final score of 11-10. In that contest, the Griffons plated eight runs in the home half of the seventh inning to take the lead for the first and only time on the night on the way to earning relief pitcher Andrew Goot's only win of the year.

In Saturday's contest, the Griffons had to play from behind once again, but it wasn't nearly as bad this time. The Mudcats drew first blood in the top of the first inning, plating a run on Tanner Billy's RBI groundout to shortstop Alex Lang to take a 1-0 lead, but that didn't last long.

Nevada Griffons first baseman Marcus Ethan catches a pop up behind first base during Sunday night's game against Chillicothe.

The Griffons took the lead for the first and only time in the home half of the second, taking advantage of Mudcats starter Jon Glidewell's control struggles to plate five runs. That rally brought a quick end to Glidewell's day on the mound, forcing him to come out of the game after allowing five earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts and six walks in just an inning and two thirds.

The Mudcats got one of those runs back in the top of the third on Billy's second RBI of the night, but the Griffons weren't finished yet. Austin White pushed Nevada's lead back to four runs in the home half of the fourth, driving in Matt Hilston with a single to make it 6-2.

Chillicothe went on to plate two more runs in the fifth and one more in the seventh to cut the Griffons' lead to just one at 6-5. Michael Douglas knocked in an insurance run for the Griffons with a seventh-inning single that brought home Tanner Glore to make it 7-5.

Alex Lang is safe at third on a steal during Sunday's game.

That ultimately proved to be just what the Griffons needed as Chillicothe plated one more run in the eighth inning, ultimately coming up just one short and handing the Griffons a 7-6 victory.

Starter Steve Danielak picked up the win for the Griffons, allowing four earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and two walks in 5 2/3 innings. Cody Faulkner got the save after striking out all three batters he faced in a scoreless ninth inning.

Things didn't turn out nearly as well for the Griffons on Sunday, when the Mudcats returned to action at Lyons Stadium in the final game of a three-game set. In that contest, Chillicothe got an early lead once again and never gave it up, taking the victory by a final score of 8-5.

The Mudcats plated two runs in the top of the second and though the Griffons were able to get one back in the home half of the frame, Chillicothe never gave up the lead.

The Griffons were never really able to put together that one big inning they needed in the contest and though head coach Ryan Mansfield's squad did outhit the Mudcats, 13-11, the Griffons were never able to get the traction they needed to turn those hits into runs and Chillicothe took full advantage, taking the three-run victory.

Starter Trent Keefer took the loss for the Griffons, allowing six runs -- three earned -- on eight hits with two strikeouts in five innings of work. Andrew Bramley got the win for the Mudcats, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and four walks in six innings.

With those games, the Griffons' record slipped to 22-10 overall on the season, 20-10 in League play. Despite Sunday's loss, the Griffons didn't lose any ground to the Sedalia Bombers in the MINK League South Division race, as the Bombers fell to the Clarinda A's by a final score of 8-3 to stay 2 1/2 behind the Griffons in the division standings.

Next on the schedule for the Griffons is Tuesday, when Mansfield's squad is set to take on Clarinda at Lyons Stadium. First pitch in that contest is set for 7 p.m.

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