The Chillicothe Mudcats split a doubleheader with the Nevada Griffons on Wednesday evening at Shaffer Park. Both games Wednesday were seven inning contests
GAME 1
The Griffons got the scoring started early in the top of the first and second innings, a single run in each of the innings allowed the Griffons to jump out to a 2-0 lead after the top of the second.
The Mudcats then responded back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second. Canon Creason scored on a Nick Blakeney fielder’s choice, and the Mudcats cut the Griffon lead in half, 2-1 Nevada after two innings.
After that, the next three innings saw all zeros on the board. That was, until the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, Nevada extended its lead to 4-1 plating two runs in the inning and holding the three run lead into the bottom of the inning.
Chillicothe then answered back in the bottom of the sixth. Max Heintz and JP Gonzalez both came across the plate on a Clayton Eskra base hit to left field to cut the Griffon lead to 4-3, but the Mudcats stranded two runners in scoring position, and the 4-3 lead held true into the seventh.
The Griffons went scoreless in the top of the seventh, and the Mudcats came up with a chance to create some final inning magic. They were able to do so. Jevon Raboy scored on a Canon Creason groundout to tie the game up at 4 apiece. Then, Slater Hooke stole home and got his hand in just before the tag to walk it off. The Mudcats take game one 5-4 on a walkoff and get their tenth win of the season.
GAME 2
Onto game 2, the Mudcats went on top early on looking to sweep the doubleheader.
In the second inning, the Mudcats struck first with Nick Blakeney and Canon Creason crossing the plate to give the Mudcats a 2-0 lead.
The Griffons cut that lead in half in the fourth with a run to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, Chillicothe put up a big number to catapult themselves into a comfortable position. Creason scored for the second time in the game on a Blakeney single into center field, 3-1 Mudcats after that. Then, Ryder McClain hit a sacrifice fly into center field to bring in Alejandro Somaza and make it 4-1. Later in the inning, Jevon Raboy laced a double into left field to bring home Rafael Calcaño and extend the lead to 5-1. JP Gonzalez added a single of his own to plate Cole Adair, and the Mudcats held a convincing 6-1 lead after the fourth.
That lead would then quickly be put into jeopardy for the Mudcats
In the fifth, a double from Jarren Hay brought home Mac West to make it a 6-2 game. Then, Miguel Salazar crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall to make it 6-4 Mudcats after the Griffons turn in the fifth.
In the top of the sixth, a five run inning for Nevada put the visitors in front for good. Highlighted in the five run frame was a bases clearing double for Mac West on a ball that landed on the right field foul line in the shallow right field grass. 9-6 Griffons after the sixth.
That score held true into the Mudcat bottom of the seventh. Chillicothe had their chances to potentially tie the game up or even walk it off having the bases loaded with nobody out at one point. However, all the Mudcats could muster in the inning was a single run from Canon Creason, his third time crossing the plate in the game. The Mudcats lose game two 9-7 after blowing the lead in the late innings.
The Mudcats record is now 10-20 following the doubleheader split.
Chillicothe is back in action on Thursday evening against the Nevada Griffons at Shaffer Park for the rubber match of the three-game series. First pitch on Thursday is at 7:05 p.m.