Clarinda uses big inning to top Griffons

Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail Former Nevada Griffon Josh Malin (right) was recognized on Sunday for last year's all-american honors from the NBC World Series. Malin, who spent two summers with the Griffons, was also the Pitcher of the Year award winner from last summer's NBC World Series, where the Griffons took third place. Griffons General Manager Jeff Post (left) presented Malin with his awards before the seventh inning on Sunday night when the Griffons played the St. Joseph Mustangs.

By Jason Peake

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- After winning 10 of their first 11 games at home, the Nevada Griffons have now dropped two-straight at Lyons Stadium.

Visiting Clarinda put together one solid inning and defeated the host Griffons 6-1 on a warm Tuesday in game one of a doubleheader. Game two went late.

One bad inning, once again in the middle of the game, hurt the Griffons in Tuesday's opener.

In addition to allowing one big inning, the offense was lacking again for the Griffons, as the hosts had just five hits in the first game of the twinbill.

With the loss, Nevada has lost five of six. The Griffons fall to 14-10 in the MINK League with the loss. They're still in first place in the South.

Nevada struck first, scoring right away in the bottom of the first against A's starting pitcher Jeff Gacke. Brad Wilson singled, stole second and went to third on a groundout by AJ Krist. The A's then committed an error on Rick Hepworth's grounder, Wilson scored and it was 1-0. Gacke then got out of the inning by retiring Jesse Solar.

Clarinda had the bases loaded with one out in the third, but Griffons starter Lucas Schiraldi worked out of trouble by getting a pop out and a ground ball to end the threat.

But Schiraldi struggled with his control in the fourth, and the A's took advantage. Two walks and a double loaded the bases. Schiraldi struck out Kevin Luna, but the ball got past Griffons catcher Colton Besett, a run scored on the wild pitch and it was 1-1.

Next, Austin Ascherl walked to load the bases. Dominick Francia then cleared the bases in a big way by hitting a grand slam over the fence in right, giving the A's a 5-1 cushion.

Schiraldi then hit Demarco Poindexter, but then struck out Jarvis Smith and got Sam Tolleson to pop out to end the inning. But the damage had been done.

The A's loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and scored a run on a wild pitch, making it 6-1.

Late in the game, the Griffons could never get anything going offensively. In fact, after the second inning, the Griffons did not have a baserunner in scoring position.

Gacke went the distance and earned the win on the mound. He gave up five hits, one walk and struck out four.

Schiraldi took the loss. He gave up five earned runs in four innings. He did strike out seven, but walked three and hit three.

Jake Heissler and John Rapose pitched in relief for the Griffons. Neither allowed a run.

Wilson had two hits for the Griffons.

Brandon Thomasson had three hits for the A's, while Francia and Poindexter had two apiece. The A's stranded 10 runners on base.

Notes: Game two of the doubleheader was not over by our press time on Tuesday night. Look for results tomorrow.

The Griffons are home again tonight vs. Clarinda at 7 p.m.

It was Heartland Behavioral Health Services Night with free admission on Tuesday. It was also near 100 degrees at the time of the first pitch.

Tuesday's result

Game one

A's 6, Griffons 1

CL 000 500 1 -- 6 11 1

NE 100 000 0 -- 1 5 1

WP: Gacke. LP: Schiraldi.

Griffons boxscore

AB R H RBI

Hepworth 3 0 0 0

Sousanes 3 0 0 0

Samuelson 3 0 0 0

McDaniel 1 0 0 0

MINK League glance

Tuesday's scores

Clarinda 6, Nevada 1

St. Joseph 6, Chillicothe 0

Joplin 2, Sedalia 1

Clarinda, Nevada, late

St. Joe, Chillicothe, late

Wednesday's games

St. Joseph at Ozark

Sedalia at Joplin

Clarinda at Nevada

Thursday's games

Ozark at Omaha (2)

Chillicothe at Sedalia

Nevada at Joplin

Clarinda at St. Joseph