Nevada Lady Tigers fall to Carthage in season's third game

Nevada's Jessica Neely hits one many fouls while batting in the third inning of Thursday's game against the Carthage Tigers. --Ralph Pokorny/Daily Mail

The Nevada Lady Tigers fell to 1-2 on the season with a decisive loss to the Carthage Lady Tigers Thursday evening.

The first inning started off slow for both teams with no runs and no hits for either side. Nevada went down in order in the home half of the frame, but allowed Carthage the game's first base runner with the first of seven errors in the game by the defense.

Carthage got on the board in the top of the second with two hits and the game's second error, taking a 1-0 lead. Nevada went down quietly in the home half of the frame as starter Denise Taylor recorded her first strikeout, but the Lady Tigers were afforded a runner on the first error of the game for Carthage.

Nevada's troubles continued in the top of the third, allowing two more runs on one hit, two errors, and two passed balls. Carthage did allow Nevada to get on the board in the home half, however, allowing one run on one hit with their second error before Taylor was able to shut Nevada down with her second and third strikeouts of the game.

Carthage hit Nevada starter Rachel Kennedy hard once again in the top of the fourth, scoring three more runs on four hits and another Nevada error. Nevada went down quietly in the bottom of the inning, only getting one base runner on Taylor's only walk of the game.

Carthage started out strong again in the fifth with a lead-off infield single that ended up being the beginning of another 3-run rally that put Nevada in a 9-1 hole before reliever Olivia Culbertson struck out the side. Nevada tried to mount a rally of their own in the home half of the frame, but came up with just a single run when the inning was brought to a close as Nikki O'Bryan was caught trying to steal second.

Aggressive base running seemed to be the focus of the inning and did help Nevada's cause as Tiffani Long stole second to get herself into scoring position and eventually come around to score the only run of the inning. Nevada finished the frame with two hits and went into the sixth inning down 9-2.

Carthage was able to work just the second walk of the game for either team along with a base hit in the top of the sixth, but was unable to lengthen their lead, going down scoreless. Taylor once again shut Nevada down in the home half of the frame, facing the minimum and adding another strikeout to her total.

Carthage added the game's final run after a lead-off double and Nevada's seventh error of the game and went on to win the game by a final score of 10-2 after Nevada went down in order in the bottom half.

After the game, head coach Brandi Thomsen said of the team's performance, "We're better than that, I'll tell you that much." Nevada was outhit 12-3 and despite only scoring two runs, left just two runners on base in the game.

Thomsen said that the team is still a bit awkward and trying to adjust to the new season and she is OK with their 1-2 record, but they have to start making outs when given the opportunity. Thomsen also noted that the Lady Tigers were not an overpowering pitching team and were a bit lackluster at the plate.

"I didn't feel like we did a horrible job at the plate, but we didn't have the intensity we should have," Thomsen said. The Lady Tigers will now have a four day break before heading into action again at home on Tuesday, against Seneca High School.