Five-run fifth inning lifts Tigers to victory over Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. –– A five-run fifth inning was just what the doctor ordered, as the Nevada Tigers edged Joplin High School 5-4.

The Tuesday evening non-conference road victory improves the Tigers to 5-2 overall (2-1 WCC). The loss drops Joplin to 5-9.

With the game scoreless headed into the fifth, Nevada’s Trent Ellis led off the frame with a sharp single to right field. Logan Armstrong followed, reaching on a bunt single. With one out in the inning, Tyler Ketterman was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Braeden Hinton.

Hinton proceeded to plate Ellis, courtesy of an infield single to the left side –– as Armstrong and Ellis advanced 90-feet on the base paths. Five-hole hitter Branden Harder then plated Armstrong with a sacrifice fly to center field, as Nevada went on top 2-0.

With runners in scoring position, Jarrett Owen’s 2-RBI single handed the Tigers a 4-0 advantage. Nevada’s final run of the contest came on a Peyton Denney double into right field, scoring Owen, as Nevada increased its lead to five runs.

“As we’ve seen before, our big innings usually occur when everyone is content to do their part,” and aren’t trying to do too much,” Nevada head coach Danny Penn said. “The fifth inning was a nice ‘team inning.’

Joplin trimmed into Nevada’s lead in the sixth, as an error on a routine ground ball, followed by a dropped fly ball, led to an unearned run charged to Tigers’ starting pitcher Payton Bright.

The inning came to a conclusion with left fielder Myles McNeley making a highlight reel catch in deep left-center field, stranding Joplin runners.

Making his first appearance of the season, Bright began to wear down in the seventh, as Joplin plated three runs to close its deficit to 5-4, as base knocks from Noah Gaudette and Jake Yarnell accounted for Joplin’s three runs.

With two outs, Harder came on in relief. After allowing a hit, Harder found himself in a bases loaded situation, but was able to coax Austin Landis into a ground out to shortstop for the game’s final out.

Penn said he was impressed with Bright’s debut performance, as the senior allowed four hits and three earned runs, while striking out three and walking two over 6 2/3 innings of work.

Bright, who opened the contest with five shut out innings, moves to 1-0 on the season, while Harder notched the save.

“Payton did a great job in his first action of the season on the bump,” an elated Penn said. “He worked ahead in the count, pitched to contact, and trusted his defense.”

Penn continued: “Through the first five innings, we made all of the plays in the field. It was beautiful watching our pitching and defense working together so efficiently.”

Penn said he is pleased with how his squad has responded coming off its April 7 loss in the Bill O’ Dell Tournament championship game, as the Tigers have followed up with a combined 17 runs en route to back-to-back victories.

“We’ve played good baseball the past two games” Penn noted. “I hope our players are able to take a step back and see how well we can play when everyone is locked in and ready for the ball to be hit to them.

“At the same time, I hope they can see how fast it can all fall apart if they aren’t ready.”

Junior varsity

The Tigers junior varsity squad (0-4) fell to Joplin 13-0 in a five inning contest.

Up next

After a haul of five games in the past eight days, Nevada returns to the diamond today, as the Tigers host Sedalia Smith-Cotton. The first pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.