Nevada Griffons defeat Chillicothe Mudcats, 4-2

CHILLICOTHE -- The Nevada Griffons had to play from behind right from the start, but ultimately showed the same "fire" head coach Ryan Mansfield pointed out after his squad's home-opening victory over St. Joseph on Sunday, shutting down the Chillicothe Mudcats' offense for the majority of the contest on their way to a 4-2 victory.

The Griffons came into the contest hoping to build upon Sunday's win, while the Mudcats came into the night hoping to avoid starting an early-season losing streak. Both teams came into the night with the same record at 1-1, but the Griffons had a clear momentum advantage since that one win came the last time Mansfield's squad was on the field.

It looked as though that momentum edge wouldn't be quite enough as the Mudcats got to Nevada starter Trent Keefer in the first inning when the first three hitters reached safely. Brandon Dulin knocked in the first run of the day when he brought home Trevor Jones with a single to give the Mudcats an early 1-0 lead after the first inning.

Chillicothe went on to add an insurance run in the home half of the third, putting the Griffons in an early 2-0 hole. That was where Keefer settled in, however, shutting down the Mudcats for the rest of his outing. By the time his day was done, Keefer ended up allowing two earned runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts in six innings on his way to earning the victory.

The Griffons got what ultimately turned out to be all the offense they would need in the top of the fourth inning, plating three runs on two hits and one Mudcats error, which brought home Matt Hilston to put the Griffons on top for good at 3-2. Mansfield's squad added what turned out to be an unnecessary insurance run in the fifth when Austin White brought home Jack Goihl with a single to give the Griffons what ultimately became the final advantage at 4-2.

Andrew Bramley took the loss for the Mudcats, allowing four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in five innings of work. Mitch Weis earned the save for the Griffons, putting the Mudcats down in order in the ninth inning.

Leadoff hitter Chris Scroggins finished the day 3-for-5 to lead the Griffons, lifting his season batting average to .533, while Michael Sterling made good on his Griffons debut with two hits of his own in four at-bats. As a team, the Griffons were outhit, 10-8, in the contest.

With the win, the Griffons improved to 2-1 overall and in MINK League play on the season.

The two squads were scheduled to get right back into action Wednesday with the second game in a three-game series, but those results were not available at press time.

Elsewhere in MINK League play Tuesday, Sedalia and Ozark split a doubleheader at Ozark when the Bombers won the first game by a final score of 5-0 and the Generals took the nightcap, 2-1, while Omaha edged St. Joseph, 2-1, and Joplin held off Rossville, 4-3, for a non-league win.