Griffons drop twinbill to Ozark

Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Griffons slump continued Tuesday when the first game of a doubleheader with the Ozarks Generals ended in a 5-2 loss and the second game ended with an identical score.

Plagued by three errors and able to post just two hits against Ozark pitcher Zac Butler, who pitched all seven innings to record the win, the Griffons fought hard to get around the bases to no avail as the Generals defense prevailed, despite a second-inning error by the Ozarks first baseman that put MJ Sartin on first. He stole second, but was out at third on a fielder's choice. A dropped third strike put Parker McDaniel on first and scored Dave Richards, who'd reached base on a walk.

Ozark answered with a run in the second and another in the third; and the Griffons posted a second run in the fourth, tying the score for the second time. But the Generals scored two in the fifth and one in the sixth. A scoreless seventh inning clenched the win for Ozark, and the Griffons set their sights on the second game and a chance for redemption.

It looked as though the Griffons meant business in game two, drawing first blood by posting a run in the first inning.

Matt Burns grounded out, Eric Sousanes walked, then reached third when Rick Hepworth singled. AJ Krist reached first on a fielder's choice that meant Hepworth was out at second, and Sousanes scored on an error by the Ozarks second baseman. Krist was caught stealing to end the inning.

The Generals answered with one run in the second, and a scoreless third inning quickly transpired -- three up and three down for both teams -- before the Griffons posted another run in the fourth when Sousanes again scored after reaching base on a walk and advancing to second when Hepworth walked. After AJ Krist hit into a double play, Sartin's double drove Sousanes home.

But in the bottom of the fifth, the Generals rallied and plated four runs, bringing the score to 5-2, with the Griffons recording another loss.