The Chillicothe Mudcats earned the #3 seed in the MINK after a 19-15 league record. The Mudcats hosted #6 seeded Nevada Griffons in the first round of the playoffs Monday from Shaffer Park.
The game was highlighted by the pitching on both sides as the Mudcats struggled with their bats, managing only two hits on the night. Layne Rutherford started on the mound for the Mudcats and posted eight strikeouts in just under seven innings. Ace Ryotara Hirayama closed for Chillicothe with five strikeouts in two and one third innings, not allowing a hit.
In both the third and seventh inning, the Griffons faced two outs with no baserunners and in each instance managed a two out rally to score a pair of runs that included a costly error from the Chillicothe defense that extended the inning each time. After the Mudcats fell behind 2-0 in the third they responded in the bottom of the frame with a run by Aiden Baerenklau. However when the Griffons extended the lead out to 4-1 in the seventh, the Mudcats could not manage another response. Nineteen of the final 20 at bats for the Mudcats failed to result in a trip on base.
Nevada pulled off the upset by a score of 4-1 and advance to the MINK League semifinals, while the Mudcats season comes to a close. It was the best Mudcats summer in the five year span under Coach Tyler Hudlow, recording the highest winning percentage since 2019.
