Griffons defeated in 2021 debut, 9-3, at Jeff City

The Nevada Griffons lost their season opener on the road Thursday, falling 9-3 to the Jefferson City Renegades.

After needing 10 innings to beat Sedalia in its first game of the season, the home team made sure to put away Nevada early in game no. 2 — jumping out to a four-run lead after a first-inning three-run homer off the bat of Andrew Paten.

The Renegades (2-0) only extended their lead from there, plating three more runs in the third and another one in the sixth to go up 8-0.

Nevada (0-1) finally got things going in the eighth, dinging reliever Grayson Gregrich for two runs after managing just one hit against starter Ethan Osborne.

Atley Jacome led off the inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Tyler Davis, who advanced to second on a passed ball. Ryan Rodgers then drew a walk of his own, and Davis scooted to third on a wild pitch. Davis eventually scored the Griffons’ first run of the season hustling home on a throw to second when Rodgers swiped a bag.

Chase Beiter then drove Rodgers home with a triple, forcing Jeff City to bring in another pitcher, Braydon Boyer, who shut down Nevada in the eighth before allowing a leadoff single by Alec Telles to open the ninth. Telles eventually scored on an error.

The Renegades, meanwhile, managed to add one more run in the home half of the eighth.

Nevada used three pitchers in its 2021 debut. Reliever Sebastian Kirchner had the best outing of the bunch, striking out seven and allowing one hit in 2 2/3 innings of work. Starter Dustin Niles lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks. Aussie Richard Kiel threw the final three innings, giving up four hits on four strikeouts, two walks, and two earned runs.