Errors prove costly as Tigers drop conference game to St. Pius

Nevada relief pitcher, Bryson Leftwich, delivers a pitch during Thursday's home contest against the St. Pius X Warriors. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

Fielding woes doomed the Nevada Tigers Thursday evening at Lyons Stadium, as they fell 10-3 to the visiting St. Pius X Warriors in a West Central Conference matchup.

The loss is Nevada's third in a row, as they fall to 6-5 overall (3-1 WCC).

Four of the Tigers eight errors came in the top of the sixth inning, as St. Pius X was able to plate seven runs, going on top 10-0.

"(The game) was disappointing for a number of reasons," Nevada head coach Danny Penn said during his postgame radio interview. "The first five innings we didn't have very good at-bats at the plate ---- not a lot of discipline. We were tested and did not respond well."

The first run of the game came in the bottom of the second inning, as an Austin Mendez single to left-center field off starting pitcher Andrew Heathman, scored Cal Melcher to put the Warriors on top 1-0.

Two Tigers errors in the top of the third inning resulted in the Warriors going up 2-0. In the top of the fifth inning, Melcher's second single of the game scored pinch-runner Will Brockman, as St. Pius X led 3-0. `

St. Pius broke the game open in the top of the sixth, beginning with a Jack Stoddard double to left field to lead off the inning. Looking to move Stoddard over to third base, senior Sam Martino laid down a bunt.

A throwing error on the play resulted in Stoddard scoring and Martino reaching first base safely, as St. Pius grabbed a 4-0 lead.

Later in the inning, Bryson Leftwich was brought in to relieve Heathman.

With the bases loaded, Johnny Conforti rocketed a pitch to Tigers shortstop Tyler Ketterman. Ketterman was unable to field the ball cleanly, as Martino and Victor Glorioso came around to score, putting the Warriors in front 6-0.

As the inning continued, another throwing error led to Conforti touching home plate, giving St. Pius a 7-0 edge.

The lead later swelled to 8-0 via a Melcher single to left field, scoring Bobby McCoy.

Prior to the inning concluding, St. Pius tacked on a pair of runs, courtesy of a Mendez single and Martino double, handing the Warrios a 10-0 lead.

Tigers senior Andrew Heathman rounds third base en route to home plate in the bottom of the sixth inning. (Photo by Matthew Resnick/Daily Mail)

Nevada responded in the bottom of the sixth, as a Jacob Johnson bases-clearing double sliced the deficit to 10-3. However, that was as close as Nevada would get.

"(After the game), we talked about how to be a good baseball player and what that means," Penn said. "(We talked about) the passion that's required. The dedication not only to yourself but to your team. The fire that we hope to see.

"The first five innings the thing that (assistant) coach (Kyle) Talley and I kept talking about and the thing that we kept trying to get the guys to fix, was ---- 'we're going through the motions guys.' There's no energy. We were just lethargic."

Penn said in order for his squad to get back on track, that it's "just a matter of focus."

"The thing that we're struggling to do right now is to let that error go," he said, "and be confident that when the next ball is hit to us that we are going to make the play. Baseball is a game where the ball is going to find you, and that was evident today."

Up next

The Tigers host West Central Conference foe Sedalia Smith-Cotton, Saturday, in a home doubleheader.

The first pitch is slated for 10 a.m.