Tigers fall to Mount Vernon at Bill O’ Dell Tournament, 12-6

CARTHAGE, Mo. — After notching am impressive victory over Carl Junction on Tuesday at the 44th annual Bill O’Dell Baseball Tournament — the Nevada Tigers returned to the diamond for pool play, falling to Mount Vernon, 12-6 Wednesday.

“Today was disappointing from a number of standpoints,” said Nevada head coach, Danny Penn. “I thought, and hoped, we would continue with the momentum we had gained yesterday. However, we came out relatively flat and put ourselves in a hole.”

Nevada (2-2) trailed 1-0 through one inning of play, and 3-0 at the conclusion of the second.

Nevada broke through in the home half of the third, plating a pair of runs to trim its deficit to 4-2. Nevada then plated two in the fourth, knotting the contest 4-4.

Mount Vernon, however, broke the game open with a three-run fifth, followed by a two-run sixth, to go in front 9-4.

Mount Vernon then tacked on a trio of runs in the top of the seventh. The Tigers didn’t go quietly, pushing across two in the seventh, before succumbing by the final six-run margin.

“To our credit, we were able to come back and tie the game in the fourth,” noted Penn. “Give Mount Vernon’s hitters credit — when our pitchers missed up in the zone, they put good swings on those pitches.”

Nevada starter Logan Armstrong was saddled with the loss, surrendering six runs (four earned) and nine hits, over four and two-third innings of work. “Logan struggled with his location and command,” said Penn. “He had a hard time getting his pitches down in the zone, and struggled until the fourth or fifth inning to find his curveball.”

Added Penn: “Mount Vernon was able to sit on his fastball and jump on it when he made a mistake. A couple of times, we made the pitch we wanted, but just weren’t able to make the play defensively.”

Seniors Branden Harder and Braeden Hinton led Nevada’s offensive charge. Harder concluded 2-for-2 with a pair of runs and RBI, while Hinton finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. In addition, junior first baseman Peyton Denney chipped in two base knocks, while Jarrett Owen drove in two.

Despite the loss, Armstrong aided his own cause with two runs scored and an RBI.

Through two games at the Bill O’Dell Tournament, Hinton is 6-for-8 with seven RBI and four runs scored.

“Offensively, the top of our lineup had another strong showing,” noted Penn. “We had a lot of ducks on the pond, and were only able to score them a couple of times. Logan, Branden, and Braeden are doing a great job setting the table at the top of our lineup.”

Penn continued: “I think a few of our guys are pressing a little bit and trying to do too much at the plate. Moving forward into next week, we hope everyone is able to take a deep breath and simplify their approach at the plate.

“Ideally, we’ll get good weather and will be able to play a lot of games — and get guys to where they’re feeling good at the plate.”