Griffons fall to Mudcats in extra innings

With the winning run just 90-feet away and no outs in the bottom of the ninth, the Nevada Griffons were unable to secure victory, leaving the bases loaded as they eventually fell to the Chillicothe Mudcats 4-2 in 10 innings.

The Saturday night contest at Lyons Stadium extended the Griffons losing skid to four games, dropping their record to 3-5 overall and 2-5 in MINK League-play.

Stranding 14 base runners including four in the bottom of the ninth wasn't the only thing that cost the Griffons a victory ---- with defense being the other major culprit. After committing six errors Friday night against Branson, the Griffons were charged with four errors Saturday.

Keeping hope alive for the Mudcats with two outs in the top of the 10th inning, Jacob Biller doubled off of Griffons relief pitchers Tyler Butcher. The play was somewhat controversial as Biller appeared to have been tagged out at second base a split-second before he reached the bag, on a strong throw from right-center field. The diving Biller however, was called safe on play that likely would have been reviewed had it been a Major League Baseball game.

Following in the order was Mudcats cleanup hitter Dalton Schumer. On the payoff pitch Biller bolted for third base. Catcher Jake McPhail's throw was wide of third baseman Adam Eskil and up the left field line allowing the speedy Biller to easily score on the play. The go-ahead run handed Chillicothe a 3-2 lead. In addition, the full-count pitch was called a ball, putting Schumer on first base. After the critical sequence of events, Butcher was relieved on the mound by Troy Hall, a left-handed pitcher out of Greenville, Tennessee.

The first batter Hall faced, Andrew Tannous, doubled to deep left-center field, scoring Schumer from first. The insurance run put Chillicothe on top 4-2. Tannous was left stranded in scoring position as Hall struck out John Remick to retire the side.

The bottom of the 10th inning opened with Griffons pinch-hitter Nick Guargna singling to right-center field off Mudcats relief pitcher Zach Smith.

The complexion of the inning changed in a hurry as shortstop Tyler Wetrich lined out to third base with Guargna getting doubled off first on the play. Ethaniel Valdez then grounded out to shortstop for the game's final out.

Golden opportunity

With the contest tied 2-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, the frame opened with three consecutive singles off the bats of heart of the order hitters Cole Johnson, Tyler Pagano, and Kainulu Pitoy ---- loading the bases.

With virtually no room for error, Smith came up with a strike out of Judah Zickafoose for the inning's first out.

With the infield playing "in" for a play at the plate, a Samuel Mitchell grounder to first resulted in an accurate throw to home as Johnson was forced out on the play. With two down and the bases still loaded, Jaxxon Fagg grounded sharply back to Smith, who then threw to first base for the final out as the Mudcats successfully navigated through the treacherous inning.

See Tuesday's edition of the Daily Mail for full story