RENO — For the second straight year, Ryan Anderson was dominant at Bishop Manogue in the first round of the DI North regional tournament. For the second straight year, it wasn’t enough.
The Cougars’ hard-throwing 6-6 lefty struck out 13 on Tuesday and allowed just one earned run on three hits and two walks over six innings, but was saddled with the loss in a 4-3 defeat. It was his offense that let him down last year in a 1-0 loss. On Tuesday, it was his defense, which committed four errors leading to three unearned runs.
Spanish Springs coach Ben Hofmann said he felt his team would be in the winner’s bracket without the defensive struggles.
“I think so,” Hofmann said. “Ryan pitched well enough to win a ballgame. Their guy (Michael Davis) was good but shoot, we had some uncharacteristic errors from guys that haven‘t really made them all year.”
The first error, and maybe the most costly, came in the bottom of the second.
With one out and Shane Andrew standing on second, Luke Smith became Anderson’s fourth strikeout victim. However, the ball hit the turf and the throw to first sailed and made its way to the right field corner. Andrews scored easily and Smith made it all the way to third.
He wasn’t there long, scoring the next at bat when Oliver Shawa grounded out to first but the ball was booted.
“Two runs feels like 20 when you’re going against Ryan,” Bishop Manogue coach Charles Oppio said. “It seemed like an avalanche of runs. They made some mistakes, but we did a good job of taking advantage of it. You knew that wasn’t the end of it. You knew you were going to see them come back at it.”
The Miners added an unearned insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to make the lead 4-1 before the Cougars rallied in their last at bat.
After two singles to lead off the inning and a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Joey Arterburn hit a ground ball to first that allowed Alan Lummel to score from third. Davis struck out the following batter then No. 9 hitter Daulton O’Connell legged out an infield RBI single to get the Cougs within 4-3.
O’Connell’s hustle play ended Davis’ day, who was near equally as effective as Anderson. He allowed three runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings while striking out seven and did not walk a batter.
“I thought he (Davis) threw fastball well and I thought his curveball and changeup were pretty good,” Hofmann said. “He was able to keep them just off balance enough. I though he pitched well enough to win.”
Oppio gave the ball to Cole Salacies who needed just two pitches to induce a game-ending ground out.
“Mike did his job. And Cole has been doing a great job for us in short relief,” Oppio said. “He’s come in, in some big spots this year and clutched up for us.”
The Miners, the No. 4 seed in the tournament, go to No. 1 Galena on Wednesday for the chance to advance to the semifinals.
The Cougars, the No. 5 seed, will host No. 8 Reed on Wednesday in an elimination game. The winner of that game will play the loser of No. 3 Reno and No. 7 McQueen on Thursday at 1 p.m. at Peccole Park.
“We’ve got to play better to win. That’s it,” Hofmann said. “We’ve got to play defense to win ball games. We’re not good enough to just kick it around and allow a team to score some runs that maybe that didn’t earn.”
First pitch on Wednesday at Spanish Springs is at 4 p.m.
Raiders fall to league champion Grizzlies
Reed made Galena at least think about the possibility of an upset on Tuesday in south Reno.
The No. 8 seed Raiders led the No. 1 seed Grizzlies, 1-0, after two innings in the first round of the DI North regional tournament.
Reed managed just one more hit the rest of the way though and was sent into the loser’s bracket with a 7-1 defeat.
Jared Kiessling picked up a complete game victory on the hill, allowing one run on five hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Austin Beard also threw a complete game for the Raiders, taking the loss.
He gave himself a 1-0 edge when he led off the second with a solo home run.
The Grizzlies took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third on four straight singles, stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fifth and iced away the win with two more in the sixth.
Sami Baig went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a trio of runs scored in the win.
Brandon Kernan was the only Raider who finished with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.
The Raiders were unable to take advantage of four Grizzlies errors.
Reed goes to Spanish Springs on Wednesday at 4 p.m. with the chance to continue its season. With a loss, it’s time to turn in the uniforms.
The Raiders were swept by the Cougars last week.
Winner’s bracket on Wednesday
No. 4 Bishop Manogue at No. 1 Galena, 4 p.m.
No. 7 McQueen at No. 3 Reno, 4 p.m.
Loser’s bracket Wednesday
No. 8 Reed at No. 5 Spanish Springs, 4 p.m.
No. 6 Damonte Ranch at No. 2 Carson, 4 p.m.
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