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Griffons earn much-needed win vs. Outlaws
By Jason Peake
Daily Mail Sports Editor
NEVADA -- If you ask Ryan Mansfield or Jesse Solar, they'll tell you the same thing -- they needed this one.
The Nevada Griffons pulled out a tense 2-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws on Sunday night at Lyons Stadium.
After some recent struggles, and with their league-lead shrinking, the Griffons were solid overall in picking up a much-needed win.
"Our guys needed a win for themselves," Coach Mansfield said. "Tonight showed we can play good baseball. I expect it every time, but it's definitely good to get a win like that."
Solar, an outfielder who drove in both Nevada runs in the game, agreed with his coach.
"It was a much-needed win for us," Solar said. "So that's another game up for us. We've been struggling lately, so hopefully this will turn things around for us."
Sunday's game was a pitcher's duel for most of the night. The Griffons broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth against Joplin lefty Jon Woodcock. Matt Burns walked and then Stuart Jeck lined a single to right, putting runners on the corners. Burns came home on an RBI groundout from Solar for a 1-0 Nevada lead.
A University of Bridgeport product from New Jersey, Solar hit a solo home run to left field in the sixth to give the Griffons a 2-0 lead.
"He started me off with three fastballs that were all high," Solar said of the at-bat. "So at 3-0 I took a pitch and it was a strike. At 3-1 I knew he was probably going to throw me a fastball over the plate. He did and I just turned on it."
The insurance run proved big later in the game.
After Matt Lynch and Matt Minnich kept the Outlaws at bay throughout the contest, Nevada grad Ron Johnson got the ball in the ninth with his team still up 2-0.
Joplin made things interesting by loading the bases with no outs, with two singles and a hit batter. Next, Conor Smith hit a sac fly to center, scoring Koby Chadick to cut Nevada's lead to 2-1. But Johnson got both Justin Treece and Jimmy Obermark to fly out to end the game.
Johnson earned his third save of the season.
Lynch made his first start of the season after coming out of the bullpen previously and got the win. He threw well, going six and a third without allowing a run and going deep into the game, something the starting pitchers have struggled with of late. Lynch (3-1) struck out six and allowed four hits.
"He's been a bullpen guy here and in college," Mansfield said. "But the young man did a heck of a job tonight."
The Griffons had six hits in the game -- one each from Brad Wilson, Tyler Palmer, Patrick Kregeloh, Burns, Solar and Jeck. With Sunday's win, the Griffons improved to 16-12 in the MINK League.
With the win, the Griffons are two and a half games up on Sedalia, three up on Ozark and now three and a half games up on Joplin.
A needed win
The Griffons had been in a bit of a slump of late. While he acknowledged his team's starting pitching hasn't been great in recent weeks, Mansfield said the slump has more to do with stranded baserunners.
"The biggest struggle has been runners in scoring position," Mansfield said. "We had bases loaded in the first inning tonight and couldn't get a hit. We stranded a lot of runners later in the game. That's the biggest thing right now, we're not getting clutch hits."
Mansfield was quick to add his team has the ability to go on a hot streak. And he pointed out his team is still confident and enjoying themselves, too.
"We're still in first place and our guys are having fun," Mansfield said. "That's the thing with this team. We don't play tight. We have to play loose and relaxed and that's this team."
Tonight's game
The Griffons will take on Joplin tonight in Pittsburg, Kan. at JayCee Ballpark in the Tyler Jeck Memorial Game.
All proceeds from the night benefit the Tyler Jeck Memorial Foundation. Jeck passed away last summer in a swimming accident. Pittsburg native Stuart Jeck, Tyler's brother, plays for the Nevada Griffons. Aaron Snow of Pittsburg plays for Joplin. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Sunday's result
Griffons 2, Outlaws 1
JO 000 000 001 -- 1 7 0
NE 000 101 00x-- 2 6 0
WP: Lynch. LP: Woodcock. SV: Johnson.
HR: Solar. RBI: Solar 2.
GRIFFONS SEASON STATS
Team leaders (after Sunday night)
Batting average -- Palmer .385; Hepworth .344; Solar .323; Krist .320.
Hits -- Hepworth 33; Krist 32; Solar 21; Sousanes 21; Wilson 21; Kregeloh 20; Palmer 20.
RBI -- Hepworth 22; Krist 15, Kregeloh 10.
Runs --Sousanes 17; Wilson 15; Solar 15; Krist 14; Burns 14; Jeck 13.
Pitching
Wins -- Lynch 3, Johnson 2, McFarland 2, Parrack 2, Barr 2.
Strikeouts -- Schiraldi 29, McFarland 25, Bush 23, Lynch 23, Heissler 21.
ERA -- Lynch 1.46, Johnson 2.08, McFarland 2.46.