Loss to Ozark drops Griffons out of first

Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail/ Griffons outfielder Dusty Wright is safe at third base on a steal in the fourth inning of Monday's game with the Ozark Generals at Lyons Stadium.

Nevada Daily Mail

A 5-2 home loss to the Ozark Generals Monday night resulted in the Griffons falling a half-game out of first place in the MINK League south division.

Originally, the teams were scheduled to play two seven inning contests. However, a thunderstorm rolled in from the northwest, postponing the second game. An official makeup date has not yet been announced.

With the loss, the Griffons are now 13-11, while the Branson Nationals sit atop the standings at 14-11.

Because Monday's game at Lyons Stadium was a makeup game from a previous road date, Ozark was the home team.

Griffons leadoff hitter Tyler Bodenstab opened up the game with a bunt single, but was later thrown out trying to steal second base.

Griffons starting pitcher Jordan West had early control issues, hitting Generals leadoff hitter Nathan Kane in the bottom of the first. After a fielders choice advanced Kane into scoring position, Robert Prieto singled into right-center field scoring Kane.

The Generals led 1-0 after one inning.

The Griffons struck back in the bottom of the third. Catcher Chris Kobar led off the inning with a double into left-center field. An Anthony Davison groundout advanced Kobar to third base. Kobar then scored on a Bodenstab groundout to the shortstop, tying the game 1-1.

A leadoff infield single in the bottom of the third allowed Ozark outfielder Jake Stafford to reach base. Stafford followed up by stealing second base to advance into scoring position. Stafford advanced another 90 feet courtesy of a Kane sacrifice bunt.

An infield single off the bat of shortstop Tanner Allen, plated Stafford from third, putting the Generals back on top 2-1.

After Ozark starting pitcher Matt Schommer held Nevada's bats in check in the top of the fourth, the Ozark offense tacked on two additional runs in the bottom half of the fourth.

After a strikeout of Andrew Kendrick to open the frame, West issued back-to-back walks, putting Zach Fairchild and Trevor Bowling on base. Next to the plate, Adam Chamblee rocketed a pitch back up the middle ---- caroming off West's glove and into left field, scoring Fairchild from second while advancing Bowling up a bag.

The rough inning continued for West, as a Stafford bunt single loaded the bases with one out. The Generals upped their lead to 4-1 via a Kane sacrifice fly that scored Bowling from third.

The Griffons escaped further damage as Allen grounded out to end the inning.

Nevada loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, thanks to singles by Davison and Jamie Graeser, followed by a two-out walk of Kurt Becker.

The Griffons were unable to capitalize, as a Dusty Wright grounder forced out Graeser at third, bringing the inning to a close.

Prieto opened the bottom of the fifth with a single, and then advanced to second on a throwing error. A Fairchild bloop single into left field and subsequent bobble by Bodenstab enabled Prieto to score easily from second, handing the Generals a 5-1 lead.

The Griffons added a run in the top of the sixth, but could get no closer. After the dust settled, the Nevada had stranded 11 runners.

For Nevada, West falls to 0-4 after taking the loss. In six innings of work, West was charged with four earned runs while allowing eight hits. West also struck out two and walked two.

At the plate Walker was 2-for-4 with a run, while Bodenstab was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Bodenstab, who raised his batting average to .328 Monday, was named the MINK League player of the week, after batting .455 (10-for-22) last week.

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