Tigers earn impressive victory over Monett at Bill O'Dell Classic

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

The Nevada Tigers baseball team toppled the previously undefeated Monett Cubs 4-3 in extra innings Wednesday afternoon at the Bill O'Dell Classic in Carthage.

The nine-inning contest was Nevada's third consecutive extra-inning game. The victory improves the Tigers to 5-2 overall.

Trailing 3-0, Nevada plated three runs in the top off the sixth inning to tie the game. Senior catcher Brett Mitchell led of the inning with a single, followed by a Trey Pritchett walk to put runners on first and second. Mitchell later came around to score on an error.

With 1-out in the inning and Pritchett and Jacob Johnson on base, Derek O'Dell roped a double down the left field line, plating both runners to knot the score 3-3.

The game remained tied until the top of the ninth inning, when Tyler Ketterman led-off with a walk, and then proceeded to steal second base.Ketterman was then sacrificed over to third base courtesy of a Branden Harder bunt.

Two batters later, senior Trey Pritchett laced a single into left field, plating Ketterman as the Tigers led 4-3.

Payton Bright, who worked two scoreless innings in relief, picked up the victory.

O'Dell started, striking out nine Cubs over seven innings.

"Our pitching was great today," Penn said. "Derek fell behind 1-0 after one inning, but really settled in after that. He was around the (strike)zone all day.

"He fell victim to some poor defense behind him, but did a nice job of limiting the damage. As he has shown before, he got stronger as the game progressed."

Penn added that he was impressed with Bright as well, who made his second varsity appearance of the season, both times entering the game in extra innings. Bright struck out three in two flawless innings of work.

"Payton did a great job of pounding the (strike) zone," Penn said, "and getting ahead with strike one. He's been in two high-pressure situation tests, and he's passed both tests so far."

At the plate, Pritchett had a big day, going 3-for-3 with the game-winning RBI, a walk, and sacrifice bunt. Mitchell was 2-for-5 with a run, while Ketterman, Harder, O'Dell, and Logan Armstrong each recorded one hit apiece.

Penn said he still sees plenty of room for improvement at the plate.

"Early in the game, we struggled again offensively," Penn said. "I thought we took some pitches that we should have done some damage with and swung at pitches we should have taken.

"We had opportunities to drive in runs, but we struggled to play team baseball. We took some selfish swings that hurt us. A lot of our hitters are struggling. I think a lot of them are hoping to break out of their slumps in one swing, which is unreasonable."

Up next

The Tigers continue play today at the Bill O'Dell Classic, facing Carthage with the first pitch slated for 4:30 p.m.

The game however, will not count towards pool-play, where Nevada is 1-1 overall.

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