Seniors take rough send-off

RALPH POKORNY/DAILY MAIL Nevada third baseman Jerrod Alexander tries unsuccessfully to tag out Webb City's Cameron Beaver in the second inning of Nevada's 16-2 loss Tuesday at Lyons Stadium.

Just 24 hours after holding McDonald County to three runs on nine hits Nevada baseball gave up 16 runs on 12 hits in a 16-2 loss to Webb City in five innings Tuesday at Lyons Stadium.

Nevada (7-7, 3-3) looked in trouble in the top of the first when it gave up two runs on a pair of fielding errors behind sophomore starter Ron Johnson. The Tigers strung together two RBI singles in the bottom of the first from seniors Ben Compton and Kyle Hughes to tie it but it would be the last time Nevada would score.

Cardinals starter Brett Richardson kept Nevada off the board for the next four innings by allowing just two more hits while the Webb City poured it on at the plate. The visitors began the third inning with back-to-back home runs off Johnson from Austin Lepper and Patrick Drake. Johnson was pulled four batters later after back-to-back singles in favor of senior Jordan Kerbs.

Kerbs came in from center field and added to the fireworks by serving up an RBI-double to left before the second fielding error of the inning gave up two more runs. The Tigers limped out of the third down 12-2 after nine runs on six hits and three errors. It signaled the end for any hope of a Nevada comeback.

"That inning we were unlucky," head coach Jared Brown said. "They're a good team, they came out and hit the ball. You've got to go out and keep playing the game."

Kerbs went the rest of the way for Nevada, allowing four more runs on four hits with two errors before the run rule forced the game to an early close. It was a grim way to celebrate Nevada's four seniors, who had to stomach a 14-run loss on senior day. Jordan Kerbs, Kyle Hughes, Ben Compton and Jerrod Alexander were honored in the infield after one of the worst losses this year.

"It was a tough ball game for our seniors," Brown said. "Things didn't go our way, that's baseball. You put it behind you and get ready to play the next game."

One could argue which statistic was more atypical for the Tigers, their four hits or the six errors that allowed five Webb City runs. Either way it was a forgettable outing for Nevada, which dropped to .500 overall and in league play with El Dorado coming to town Thursday.

"We had a few fielding errors and didn't hit the ball like we've been," Hughes said. "I'm looking forward to Thursday, we're going to come out ready to play."