Nevada splits twinbill on road

The Nevada Tigers baseball team got back on the winning track, besting Warrensburg 3-2 in seven innings Tuesday on the road.

Playing a makeup game, Nevada followed with a 6-3 loss to Sedalia Smith-Cotton.

Nevada coach Danny Penn said he was pleased with his team's effort against Warrensburg.

"We were able to jump out and score two runs in the top of the first, which gave us some momentum," he said.

Penn said the early run support helped to take pressure off Tigers starting pitcher Derek O'Dell.

"It was nice to be able to give Derek a lead before he ever got on the mound," Penn said. "He did a nice job of implementing some mechanical changes and threw the ball well."

For Nevada, right fielder Andrew Heathman blasted his third home run of the season, to up his team-leading RBI total to 21. Heathman also scored two runs.

Catcher Brett Mitchell was 2-for-3 with a double; center fielder Tanner Handly was 1-for-4 with a run; freshman Braeden Hinton was 1-for-3 with an RBI; and Trey Pritchett was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and RBI.

O'Dell picked up the victory, pitching four innings, striking out six, while giving up three hits and an earned run. Hinton appeared in relief for O'Dell, going three innings to close out the contest and pick up the save.

Hinton fanned three batters, while allowing a hit and a run.

Against Smith-Cotton, Nevada's Tyler Ketterman took the loss. Ketterman lasted four innings, but had some control issues, walking six batters. However, Ketterman did not allow a hit, and struck out three while allowing three earned runs. Freshman Branden Harder relieved Ketterman, pitching two innings, striking out two, while giving up three hits. Harder was charged with an earned run.

"While we lost, we did a lot of good things in this game," Penn said. "Things we've struggled to do this season. We moved runners around and we sacrificed for the team. We had two sacrifice flies that brought in runs.

"Our situational hitting was much better today. Sedalia is a good team, and we give them a lot of credit. We played well and I feel like today was a good day in terms of momentum as we head into our district tournament."