Menu
Bernie squeezes past Bloomfield with six-run fourth inning
BERNIE — The Bernie Mules executed back-to-back squeeze bunts in a six-run fourth inning en route to a 7-5 SCAA victory over Bloomfield on Thursday night.
The Mules (4-5, 2-2 SCAA) trailed 2-1 entering the fourth inning before Bloomfield pitcher Evan Shackles issued three straight walks.
“The key to that execution was getting guys on with no outs,” Bernie coach Marcus Massey said. “We were able to do some things. I’m super proud of the guys for being able to get those bunts down and execute in situations, and John (Nimmo) had a big two-out hit after we executed, which kind of blew that inning open for us.”
After drawing walks, Tad Davis and Landon Ellsworth stole second base, and Davis dashed to third on a wild pitch. Hunter Newton’s walk loaded the bases.
After Shackles retired Chandler Spitzer on fly out to first base, leadoff batter Tyler Suiter, who finished 2 for 3, bunted down the third-base line to score the tying run, and he reached base safely.
Johnny Vaughn executed another bunt down the third-base line, giving the Mules a 3-2 lead, and he reached base safely.
Nimmo, who led the Mules with three hits in four at-bats, followed with a two-run double to right-center field for a 5-2 lead. Ivan Meyer grounded back to Shackles for an out, and Vaughn raced home. Nimmo scored on a throwing error by the shortstop to cap the scoring.
“I told the boys … we played a heck of a six innings and we had one horrendous inning,” Bloomfield coach Ryan Alexander said, “so we're closer than we were yesterday to being a ballclub we want to be. Of course, we lost and we’re never gonna be happy when we lose, but a lot of positives today.”
The Wildcats (4-4, 2-2 SCAA) didn’t quit, as they answered with three runs in the fifth to cut the lead to 7-5.
Alexander liked his players’ fight after a tough fourth inning.
“That's part of the cultural thing that I'm trying to preach to them,” the first-year coach said. “That's something that we didn't do a lot of in the fall. We give up three or four, or in this case six, and then we wouldn't rally back. Today I felt like the mindset was more, ‘let's get a few back here and see what we can do’ rather than hanging our heads and pouting. So I was proud of them.”
Kayden Vaughn drew a leadoff walk against Nimmo and he went first to third on Blake Wagster’s single to right field. Will Robinson doubled to left-center field to drive home both runners, and Robinson scored from second on a throwing error by the Bernie second baseman.
Johnny Vaughn relieved Nimmo to record the third out and he closed the game to earn a save. He struck out two and hit a batter in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
“He threw well,” Massey said. “Johnny's one of the kids that doesn't get to pitch a whole lot because he's so valuable behind the plate for us, and I wish he could get more innings. Unfortunately, we don't have a whole lot of options to put back there when he's not there. But he did a good job of coming in and throwing strikes, and finding outs for us. Super proud of him for that.”
Nimmo picked up the victory, allowing five runs — three earned — on seven hits with four strikeouts and two walks in 4 2/3 innings.
“He threw pretty well,” Massey said of Nimmo. “There were a couple errors that we made that we'd like to have back. But (I’m) proud of him because a lot of times when those things happen, the wheels start to fall off. He stayed out there and kept throwing strikes and got us through until he ran out pitches.”
The right-hander reached 75 pitches before he was removed.
Shackles was charged with the loss, permitting seven runs — six earned — on seven hits with six strikeouts, six walks and one hit-batsman in five innings.
The Wildcats took advantage on an error by the Bernie second baseman to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Wagster reached base and advanced to second on the throwing error and scored on Robinson’s double to right field. Robinson scored on Shackles’ single down the left-field line.
Robinson finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Christian Hartlein singled twice in four at-bats.
Bernie cut the lead in half with a run in the bottom of the third.
Johnny Vaughn was struck by a pitch with one out, advanced to third on Nimmo’s infield hit and scored in Meyer’s single to left-center field.