Griffons drop to 6-4 in league play Friday

Saturday, June 21, 2008
Ralph Pokorny/Herald-Tribune Tyler Redick is safe at home on a steal in the third inning during Friday's game with the El Dorado Broncos.

By Eric Wade

Herald-Tribune

The Nevada Griffons fell to 10-4 overall with a 6-4 league record last night, in a 3-2 loss to the El Dorado, Kan., Broncos.

Nevada's starting pitcher, Matt Speake, started off strong, holding the Broncos hitless in the first inning. Nevada looked as though they may start an early rally with a lead-off hit by Tyler Redick, followed by a one out stolen base, but were shut down when the next two batters struck out to end the inning.

Speake was shaken slightly when he gave up two hits in the second inning, but was able to escape the frame without allowing a run. The Griffons' offense again followed the same pattern set in the first inning, wasting a lead-off hit and coming away scoreless.

The third inning saw a little bit of difficulty in Speake's game, when he gave up another hit and lost control of a pitch, hitting El Dorado second baseman Robert Abel. Speake quickly shook off the miscues and finished out the inning with two strikeouts, once again holding the Broncos scoreless.

Nevada's offense looked like they might give their pitcher a little help, pulling off a delayed double steal that resulted in the game's first run after knocking two more hits and a wild pitch by El Dorado starter, Bryant Cotton. But, Nevada was not able to continue the momentum, thus ending the inning with just a single run.

El Dorado answered the Nevada run immediately in their half of the fourth, with one run on three hits, but Speake held his composure and was able to get out of the inning and notch his third strikeout of the night. Nevada was unable to put together any more offense in their half of the inning, despite an error by El Dorado short stop Mike Williams, going hitless and unable to get another runner on.

Nevada threatened to break the game wide open in the fifth, after Speake pitched a one hit inning with yet another strikeout and the game's only walk. The Griffons' first three batters singled, loading the bases with nobody out. But after a Bronco pitching change, two Griffons struck out and the final runner was picked off by a fielder's throw to home, forcing Nevada to walk away empty once again.

Neither team had any offensive success in the sixth, but Nevada finally got a little offense in the seventh, taking the lead after a hit, a passed ball and an error by the third baseman which allowed Trevor Geist to get on base. Geist later stole second, but no more runs crossed the plate.

Both teams were once again shut down completely in the eighth, as Griffon's reliever Thomas Rooke worked around a wild pitch that allowed Mike Williams to get on base safely. Rooke struck out the side in the inning, only allowing one hit.

Eldorado looked as though they were finished after the defensive play of the night was given by Nevada's third baseman, Trevor Geist -- a diving grab that saved a lead-off hit. But, Nevada pitcher Nick Phillips struggled in the inning, allowing two runs on three hits, leading to a 3-2 Broncos victory.

In a post game interview, Griffons' Head Coach John Hill II said, "It's just frustrating. We gotta get guys who can get the job done." Hill said the game was truly lost in the first, second and fifth innings, when Nevada couldn't score when the opportunities came. Hill cited many issues such as poor execution on the part of the offense and a lack of quality at-bats with runners in scoring position as the main culprits for the loss.

The Griffons will continue the three game series with the Broncos at Lyons Stadium tonight and Sunday afternoon, with an off day on Monday, followed by a road trip starting in Dodge City on Tuesday.