Dupuy blast lifts Griffons to 7-6 victory over Bombers

Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Griffons starter Brian Archibald delivers in the first inning of Tuesday's contest with the Sedalia Bombers.
Matt Resnick | Daily Mail

The Nevada Griffons secured their second consecutive one-run victory Tuesday night at Lyons Stadium, downing the Sedalia Bombers, 7-6, on the strength of a Connor Dupuy homerun.

With the contest knotted at six-apiece and one out in the bottom of the eighth Dupuy, a Rajin’ Cajun out of the University of Louisiana Lafayette, lifted a solo blast to right-center, handing the Griffons the deciding one-run cushion. Dupuy was making his Griffons debut, having joined the club Sunday night.

Manager Ryan Mansfield’s mid-game substitution, inserting Dupuy into the contest, turned out to be the midas touch.

“We had a couple new guys off the bench, and I’ve always done this since I’ve been here — the new guys get thrown right into the fire,” explained Mansfield. “I wanted to see what Dupuy had defensively at second base”

Added Mansfield: “(Dupuy) and center fielder Blake Faecher just took their first BP today. They came in a little late. But throw them out there, and see what they got.”

Griffons closer Pedro Astacio Jr. then entered in the top of the ninth and shut down Sedalia, striking out a pair while retiring the side in order as the Griffons improved to 2-2 overall.

Mansfield said he’s pleased with his club’s start to the season. It’s a far cry from last season, as the Griffons opened the 2017 campaign 0-10 overall.

“These guys seem to have a little bit more fire, a little bit more desire than last year’s bunch,” summed up Mansfield. “There was a lot of stuff early last year, where we just didn’t play together as a team. The biggest thing with our start to this season compared to last year, is cutting down on errors. And offensively, taking our walks when they give them to us.”

Mansfield added that this year’s squad seems to be having more fun than the 2017 Griffs.

After putting up 18 runs Sunday, the Griffons continued to rake in Tuesday’s contest. Offensive outbursts, however, seem to be the trend league-wide in the early portion of the MINK League slate.

“It’s got to be the pitching,” noted Mansfield. “Pitching seems to be down across the league this year. But arm-wise, I think we have some of the better arms in the league this year. And hopefully that will pay off in the end.”

Mansfield said he likes the way his 2018 roster is built.

“It’s the summer,” he said, adding “guys are going to get hot, guys are going to cool down. So we will make switches throughout the course of the summer, and try to keep guys as fresh as possible.”

The Griffons struck first Tuesday evening, with Ben Palensky’s round-tripper giving Nevada a 2-0 first inning advantage.

After tossing a clean first inning, Griffons starter Brian Archibald encountered major turbulence in the second. Archibald yielded four runs, punctuated by Ryan Flores’ 2-RBI double into the right-center field alley, as the Bombers went in front, 4-2. Sedalia tacked on a run in the third, courtesy of Flores’ 2-out bloop single into left-center.

Despite striking out eight through four innings, Sedalia starter Aaron Celestino was replaced by Elijah Richeson.

The Griffons promptly sliced into the deficit in the fifth, as Zion Mayberry’s RBI sacrifice fly cut the Bombers lead to 5-3.

Sedalia got the run back in the sixth, via relief pitcher Nick Iossi’s 2-out bases-loaded walk, as the Bombers went up 6-3.

The bottom of the seventh was a big frame for the Griffons, as Conner Gage’s 3-run blast down the left field line tied the contest 6-6, and knocked Richeson from the game.

Dupuy’s eighth-inning homer, combined with three scoreless innings of relief from Iossi, Peyton Warren, and Astacio sent the Griffons to their second victory of the young season.

For Nevada, starter Archibald settled for the no-decision, allowing five runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking two over four innings of work. Warren (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth inning en route to the pitching victory, while Astacio notched his first save of the season.

At the dish for Nevada, shortstop and leadoff hitter Josh Bristyan finished 3-for-5 with a pair of runs, raising his batting average to .500, while two-hole hitter Palensky also went 3-for-5, scoring two runs and driving in two. The hot-hitting Gage went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

The back-to-back victories have the Griffons residing in second place in the MINK League South Division, 1.5 games back of the 3-0 Ozark Generals.

Defending MINK League champs St. Joseph Mustangs (4-1) sit atop the North Division.

Up next

The Griffons embark on a four-game road swing, as they open up a three-game series tonight with the Clarinda (Iowa) A’s. The Griffons wrap the road-swing with Saturday night’s contest at Sedalia.

The Griffons return to Lyons Stadium Sunday night, as they host the Mustangs. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m.

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