Tiger nine defeats Mountain View

The Mountain Home Tigers bounced back from a loss to Capital to beat the Mountain View Mavericks Thursday for their first win of the young season.

Capital 16

Mtn Home 4

A nine-run fifth inning by Capital blew open a close ball game, as the Tigers lost to the Eagles last Tuesday at home.

Mountain Home got RBI-singles by David Wise and Brian Fields in the second, when they scored three runs to take a 3-1 lead.

Capital scored four in the third to regain the lead, 5-3, and led 7-3 heading into the fifth, when the Tigers went through two pitchers trying to get through the nine-run inning.

"We fell apart. It's a trend right now," said a disappointed Mountain Home baseball coach Travis DeVore after the game. "We got a lead, came out, walked some guys, our defense falls apart, and then we just pray for the game to end.

"I've seen that the last few games, and it's got to stop. It's definitely a mental game for us right now, because you look at the scoreboard and there's eight hits and 16 runs, and there's absolutely no excuse for that.

"I don't blame the kids -- it's coaches and everyone and everything down the line. We've got to get it figured out soon because we have our conference games before you know it."

Mountain Home had just three hits in the game -- the two RBI singles by David Wise and Brian Fields -- and a single by Brett Grodi.

Michael Hobgood suffered the loss, giving up seven runs on five hits in four innings. Alan Lawler and Andrew Grodi pitched the fifth inning.

Mountain Home 12

Mountain View 7

The Tigers spoiled Mountain View's home opener on their brand new baseball field last Thursday night.

Aggressive base running helped the Tigers to a 2-0 lead after three, and a three-run double by Jacob Dunn in the third helped lead a six-run outburst, as the Tigers went up 8-0, a lead they would not surrender.

"That was a long game and a little bit nerve-racking, considering the start we got off to, but ultimately, we needed that to get some momentum going into Spring Break," said Coach DeVore after the game.

"There were some guys that really stepped up tonight. Michael Hinton gets his first game start and picks up some base hits and scores some runs for us. Jacob Dunn came in in a very tough situation and throws strikes and gets some big outs to end the game. I definitely felt we were the more aggressive team tonight."

Michael Hinton had three hits and knocked in three runs. Brett Young had a triple and a double, Jacob Dunn had a three-run double, Dillon Barresi and Alan Lawler also had doubles, and David Wise also had a hit.

Andrew Grodi went 3 1/3 innings to pick up the win, striking out two, walking two and hitting two, giving up three runs on four hits. Brian Fields went three innings, giving up four runs on five hits, striking out six, walking seven and hitting one.

Jacob Dunn came on in the bottom of the seven to record the final two outs.

The Tigers take a 1-3 record into Spring Break, returning to action on April 3 when they travel to Minico for a doubleheader.