Griffons fall at Sedalia on walk-off homer

Nevada Daily Mail

SEDALIA -- Logan Pearson hit a game-winning home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the Sedalia Bombers defeated the Nevada Griffons 5-4 on Thursday night at Liberty Park Stadium.

The game was tied at four when the Bombers came to bat in the bottom of the ninth against Griffons righty Jake Heissler. After the first two batters were retired, Pearson hit a walk-off home run to give the Bombers the victory.

With the loss, the Griffons fall to 13-7 in the MINK League, while the Bombers improve to 8-6. Sedalia is now two games behind Nevada in the South Division standings.

Neither team scored through the first four innings of Thursday's contest.

The Griffons finally broke through against Sedalia starting pitcher John Miles in the top of the fifth inning. Colton Besett singled. Later in the inning, Stu Jeck hit a two-run triple. Jeck then came home on an error, giving the Griffons a 3-0 lead.

A walk, a double and then a sac fly allowed the Bombers to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth against Griffons right-hander Lucas Schiraldi.

But the Griffons got the run back right away in the top of the sixth. Jesse Solar doubled and then Josh Samuelson hit an RBI single to make it 4-1.

But the Bombers answered back in the bottom half against Martin Martinez, scoring two runs on two hits and a hit batter. That cut Nevada's lead to 4-3.

Sedalia tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI single from Cody Webster. The Griffons failed to score in the top of the ninth and the Bombers won it in the bottom of the frame.

Heissler took the loss. He went two and two-thirds, giving up two earned runs. He struck out five.

Schiraldi went five strong innings, allowing just one earned run. Schiraldi struck out five and walked two. Martinez allowed two earned runs in one inning of work.

Jeck had two hits and two RBIs for the Griffons. AJ Krist and Samuelson had the other RBIs. These two teams will meet again tonight, this time in Nevada. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lyons Stadium.

Thursday's result

Sedalia 5, Nevada 4

NE 000 031 000 -- 4 8 0

SE 000 012 011 -- 5 9 1

WP: Opshl. LP: Heissler.

Griffons leaders

2B: Solar. 3B: Jeck. RBI: Jeck 2, Samuelson, Krist. LOB: 7.

Griffons pitching

Schiraldi -- 5IP, 4H, 1ER, 2BB, 5K.

Martinez -- 1IP, 2H, 2ER, 0BB, 0K.

Heissler -- 2.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 5K.

Bombers pitching

Miles -- 5IP, 5H, 3ER, 3BB, 4K.

Carr -- 3IP, 3H, 1ER, 1K.

Opshl -- 1IP, 0H, 0R, 3K.