Nevada takes two from Bombers

By Matt Resnick

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Griffons defeated the Sedalia Bombers 8-5 Friday night at Lyons Stadium.

The Griffons jumped out early, after Daniel Midyett tripled in the bottom of the second inning, which was followed by a Seth Fretheim sacrifice fly, scoring Midyett. Later in the inning, Cooper Burton was awarded first base after a catcher obstruction call by the umpire. Catcher Jimmy Spanos then took Bombers starting pitcher Tyler Tuepker yard for a 2-run home run, giving Nevada a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, an error by Griffons third baseman Kurt Becker allowed Jonathan Ramon to reach base. After the error, the Bombers racked up four singles and a walk, all off of Griffons starting pitcher Marcus Ethen. In total, four Bombers crossed the plate in the inning -- all scored as unearned runs for Ethen. In the bottom half of the inning, a Burton single plated Becker, tying the game 4-4.

Nevada regained control the following inning. Leadoff hitter Anthony Davison, who reached earlier in the inning on an error by Sedalia shortstop Shain Sowers, scored on a fielder's choice. Davison also singled in the fifth inning bringing Fretheim home, putting the Griffons up 6-4 -- a lead they would not again relinquish.

In picking up his first win of the year, Ethen (1-0) struck out six batters in 5.1 innings of work before being replaced by Chad Worman. Worman was strong in his relief effort, not giving up any runs and only one hit in 3.2 innings of work. Spanos had a big night at the plate going 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and his second inning blast.

Midyett and Davison notched three hits apiece while Fretheim was 1 for 2 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Becker raised his batting average to .351 while picking up a pair of hits.

The Griffons racked up 10 hits off of Tuepker, who took his third loss of the year.

Griffons 4, Bombers 3

The teams followed up the Friday night contest with a game Saturday night at Lyons Stadium, in which the Griffons earned a walk-off victory, winning 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Midyett led off the bottom of the second with a single to right field. Seth Fretheim then laid down a bunt advancing Midyett to second. A couple of batters later, Spanos continued his hot hitting as he smashed a line drive up the middle. The Spanos hit scored Midyett from second after the throw from center field was off line.

Griffons starting pitcher Alex Vannucci was able to escape trouble in the top of the third. With Cody White on first base, Sowers hit a ground-rule double over the left-center field wall. The Griffons were fortunate, in that White would have easily come around to score on the play. With runners in scoring position and 1 out, Vannucci struck out Jerrod Perry. The next Bomber to step to the plate, Trey Hair, on a 3-2 pitch, flew out to Cooper Burton in center field -- preserving the 1-0 lead.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the seventh, Sedalia rallied back. Alex Bee got things started by hitting his first home run of the year, a solo shot to right field. After allowing an infield hit and a single to shallow right-center field, Vannucci's night would be finished.

With inherited runners on first and second base, new Griffon pitcher Vito Lorenzini allowed Sowers to single just out of Davison's reach at shortstop, loading the bases. The next batter, Perry, laced a single into left field scoring Jordan Dey, slicing the Griffon lead to 3-2.

With runners at second and third and still only 1 out, Hair hit a chopper to second base brining the tying run across the plate. However, Nevada bats came alive when it mattered the most. Arzaga Gerardo singled off of Bombers relief pitcher Dan Chambliss to open the bottom half of the ninth inning. The Griffons would eventually load the bases when Jordan Taylor was hit by a pitch, followed by a Becker singled. Addison Russ, who earlier entered the game as a pinch runner, was pinch-hit for by Marcus Ethen. Ethen connected on a Chambliss fastball that was over the heart of the plate, singling to left field and scoring Arzaga from third. The clutch piece of hitting handed the Griffons a 4-3 victory walk-off victory. "I was just kind of looking for a pitch up in the zone and trying to get the ball elevated, just trying to get a sac fly for the win," Ethen said Saturday. "It was a fast ball left a little bit up. I was just happy to get around on it." Griffons manager Ryan Mansfield was impressed with Ethen's late game heroics. "Marcus hit .330, .335 for us last year," Mansfield said. "And (he) was kind of a backup option for us all year. It was good to see him get it."

Vannucci didn't factor into the decision, as Lorenzini (1-1) picked up the win. Vanucci went 6.1 innings, giving up three earned runs on the evening. In relief, Lorenzini pitched 2.2 innings, allowing only three hits an no runs, striking out three and walking a batter.

Becker was 3 for 5 with a run scored. Midyett was 2 for 3 with a run and RBI and Arzaga also notched two hits. "It was a fun game and it was fun to watch our guys compete," Mansfield said. "Both teams are kind of running on 'E' right now."