Nevada bats go cold in 7-2 loss to St. Pius

Nevada High School senior Logan Armstrong puts the brakes on as he approaches third base, during Friday’s contest with the St. Pius X Warriors.

Nick Wright | Daily Mail

For the second time this season, the Nevada Tigers were held largely in check by the St. Pius X Warriors.

The West Central Conference foes first clashed on April 9, as the Warriors emerged with a 2-0 victory. In the sequel, Friday evening at Lyons Stadium, a superb outing from St. Pius starter Jake Wilcox, combined with above-average defensive play — carried the Warriors to a 7-2 victory over Nevada.

The loss snaps Nevada’s four-game win streak, as the Tiger move to 7-6 overall, and 4-3 in WCC-play. Meanwhile, St. Pius improves to 5-3 in WCC-play.

In Friday’s contest, Nevada trailed early, as Victor Glorioso’s RBI-sacrifice fly handed the Warriors a 1-0 first inning lead.

Nevada starting pitcher Branden Harder encountered some tough luck during the early innings, as several errors committed by the Nevada defense, forced the senior to work out of multiple jams.

Harder was able to do so, escaping after striking out back-to-back batters in the third and fourth innings, as the contest remained 1-0 entering the fifth.

In the fifth, however, St. Pius plated three runs to go in front 4-0. The offensive output came courtesy of a Wilcox RBI-single, a wild pitch resulting in a run, and Glorioso’s second RBI-sacrifice fly of the contest.

The Warriors then proceeded to break the game open in the sixth. With two outs, the bases loaded and relief pitcher Dalton Gayman on the hill — a hard-hit grounder by Wilcox was misplayed by Nevada’s infield and outfield.

The costly miscues cleared the base paths, as St. Pius seized a commanding 7-0 advantage.

In the home-half of the sixth, Nevada broke through offensively, as Harder crushed a Wilcox offering over the left-center field fence. The two-run homer was Harder’s second of the season, as the Tigers trailed 7-2.

Nevada, however, was unable to get any closer, as St. Pius relief pitcher Brockman tossed a perfect seventh inning.

Nevada was led by Armstrong’s 2-for-3 day at the dish, but the Tigers totaled just five hits. For St. Pius, senior first baseman Johnny Conforti finished 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

On the mound, Harder was charged with the loss, while Wilcox notched the victory.

Up next

Nevada returns to the diamond Monday, for a varsity doubleheader with visiting Clinton. The first pitch is slated for 4:30 p.m.