Mustangs Marble shuts out Griffons at Lyons

Tuesday, June 2, 2015
Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail/ Griffons first baseman Cole Johnson connects for a single in the fourth inning of Sunday's game with the St. Joseph Mustangs.

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Griffons fell to 0-2 in MINK League play after getting blanked 3-0 by the St. Joseph Mustangs Sunday night at Lyons Stadium.

The loss was the second in two nights to St. Joseph, as the Griffons fell 4-3 in a 10 inning road contest Saturday night.

The Griffons (1-2 overall) offense was stymied by Mustangs starting pitcher Dixon Marble, who needed only 90 pitches to finish off the complete-game shut out, striking out five while yielding only four hits over nine frames.

Griffons starting pitcher Jordan West, out of Taylorsville, Utah., gave up a one out double to speedy Mustangs shortstop Jackson Schnurbusch in the bottom of the first inning. Schnurbusch was stranded on the base paths as two ground outs ended the inning. Marble made quick work of the Griffons in the bottom of the first as they went in order.

With one out in the top of the second inning, Mustangs catcher Francisco Alvarez smacked a solo home run over the left field fence, putting St. Joseph's on top 1-0. Alvarez's home run was the second in two nights off Griffons pitchers.

With one out in the bottom of the second inning, Griffons designated hitter Erik Kirkpatrick crushed a Marble pitch that nearly left the yard, but instead bounced off the base of the fence in center field. Kirkpatrick strolled into second base for a stand-up double.

Following in the order, Dusty Wright, out of South Mountain Community College in Gilbert, Ariz., grounded out to second base, advancing Kirkpatrick to third. With two outs, Austin Allison grounded out to Schnurbusch at shortstop, stranding Kirkpatrick at third base.

With one down in the top of the third inning, Jacob Richardson poked a West pitch past Griffons first baseman Cole Johnson and down the right field line for a double. Next to the plate, Schnurbusch lined a single over Griffons leaping third baseman Cody Roose, as Richardson came around from second to score, putting the Mustangs up 2-0.

Schnurbusch later advanced to second after a West wild pitch, and then to third courtesy of a fielders choice. West escaped the inning without any further damage after a grounder to Seth Sims at second base retired the side.

With one out recorded in the bottom of the third inning, Griffons right fielder Jacob Bryant out of Missouri Southern State University, reached first base via an infield error. However, the inning came to a quick close when Sims grounded to Schnurbusch, who turned the inning-ending twin killing.

Relief pitcher Seth Owens replaced West to begin the top of the fourth inning.

Things seemed to be going well for Owens as he fanned Alvarez for the second out of the inning. With the bases empty, Owens issued back-to-back walks to Pat Dillon and Jordan Powell.

The inning continued when Griffons shortstop Wright was unable to come up with a hard-hit Jerry Houston grounder. The ball deflected off Wright's chest and rolled into left field, scoring Dillon from second and advancing Powell to third base, handing the Mustangs a 3-0 advantage. The play was ruled an error.

After walking Richardson to load the bases, Owens brought the inning to a close after striking out Schnurbusch.

The Griffons managed two one-out singles off Marble in the bottom of the fourth, off the bats of Alex Jones and Johnson, both into left field. However, a Kirkpatrick strikeout and Wright ground out ended the inning.

Marble was masterful from the fifth inning on, recording 15 straight outs to shut the door on the Griffons.

For Nevada, West was saddled with the loss, going three innings while giving up two earned runs and striking out one.

Jones, Johnson, Kirkpatrick, and Bryant collected a hit apiece for the Griffons.

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