Tigers surrender late-inning lead to Carthage, fall to 0-3

Nevada High School’s tough start to the 2019 baseball season continued Friday, as the Tigers were edged by visiting Carthage, 6-5.

The non-conference home loss moves Nevada to 0-3 overall. The victory was Carthage’s first of the season, and they have since improved to 3-2 overall, courtesy of a pair of weekend victories.

The Tigers were in prime position to nab their first victory of the season. Nevada jumped out a quick 3-0 lead, and held a 4-2 advantage entering the sixth.

Nevada starting pitcher Grant Miller encountered trouble in the top of the sixth, as three consecutive hits to open the frame had Carthage in business.

The Tigers problems were then compounded by a trio of errors, leading to a four-run frame, as Carthage seized a 6-4 lead.

Down to their final out in the bottom of the seventh, Logan Bradley’s triple down the right field line, and a subsequent throwing error bringing Bradley home, sliced the deficit to 6-5.

Making a long-relief appearance, Carthage’s Tanner Green was able to record the final out, en route to the pitching victory — while Miller took the loss.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” said Nevada head coach, Danny Penn.

The Tigers collected six hits, with Miller and Bradley concluding accounting for four of those.

“We were much better offensively tonight,” noted Penn. “We had a number of hard-hit balls, many of them right at their fielders.”

Added Penn: “Unfortunately, we still had some mistakes in the field, and a couple of them came in high-leverage situations. We had a dropped throw on a relay, and a couple botched ground balls that really hurt us.”

Summed up Penn: “That said, we made some big plays, in big situations. We have to keep pushing, keep grinding, keep working to tighten up the things we’re just not quite executing yet.”

Up next

Nevada returns to the diamond today at 5 p.m., for a non-conference home clash with Smith-Cotton High School.