Fast SWAC start for Wildcats with nine-run first inning

Even in his 11th season at the helm of the Western Nevada College baseball team, D.J. Whittemore can still witness his team do something he's not seen in the past.

In their Scenic West Athletic Conference opener Thursday at John L. Harvey Field in Carson City, the Wildcats erupted for nine first-inning runs, including eight runs with two outs, starting a doubleheader sweep of the College of Southern Idaho.

WNC ran away with the first game, 13-3, in five innings and then completed the sweep, 6-2, through nine innings in the nightcap.

"I have seen nine-run first innings, but the (eight runs with two outs) is unusual," Whittemore said.

The Wildcats sent 14 hitters to the plate in the opening frame as six clutch two-out hits provided WNC a 9-0 cushion after the first inning.

"I think everybody heated up at the right time going into conference," said infielder Justin Mannens, who delivered four of the Wildcats' 13 hits. "We have a lot of disciplined hitters sitting on their pitch who are hitting it when it's there.

"When everybody is hitting, it's contagious and all of a sudden there was a big inning for us," Mannens said.

CSI starting pitcher Ryan Beard used a double play to move within an out of leaving the first inning with minimal damage.

But Bradley Lewis' run-scoring double past diving third baseman Trevor Lippard scored Mannens with the second run of the inning. Then Daniel Nist crushed a Beard offering over the 20-foot-high fence in center field, putting WNC ahead 4-0.

"Hitting over the monster with that wind, I haven't seen that before," Whittemore said. "I don't know if it's the flat seams or if he's that big and strong because the baseballs are different this year, and it seems like they are going further, but he's a big, strong guy."

Nist's fourth homer of the season came on a Beard fastball as he cleared the daunting "Green Monster" in center field.

"That's pretty fun when it happens," Nist said. "He left it over the plate and I put a good swing on it."

But the scoring didn't end there.

A fielding error kept the inning alive, and David Modler, Casey Cornwell and Chandler Barkdull made the Golden Eagles pay.

Modler delivered an RBI double to center field; Cornwell smashed a run-scoring single down the right-field line; and Barkdull hit an RBI single up the middle.

A two-run throwing error by Lippard allowed Barkdull and Mannens to score the final runs of the bountiful first inning against CSI ace Beard, who came into the game with a 2-0 record.

"He didn't even get through an inning," Mannens said. "That deflates teams with their best guy on the mound."

A well-rested Matt Young valiantly attempted to escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second inning.

After striking out Lippard and Joey Rossi, Young was nicked by a two-run single by Jake Boyd.

CSI produced its third run off Young in the third inning, trimming the deficit to six runs.

However, WNC pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom half of the third frame.

A walk to Tim Lichty forced in a run and Lewis' fielder's choice made the score 11-3.

The Wildcats polished off the victory in the fifth on an RBI double by Lichty and Eric Flores' run-scoring base hit to right field.

Beard (2-1), a left-hander, lasted just two-thirds of an inning, surrendering six hits and four earned runs.

"Getting to face left-hander Bill Sherman (a local pastor) in BP," said Whittemore said, referring to the former University of Nevada player from the mid-1980s who threw batting practice to the Wildcats on Thursday morning. "That helps us for sure."

Sherman coached Whittemore and assistant coach Aaron Demosthenes when they were playing American Legion ball.

Hitting in the No. 2 spot, Mannens went 4-for-4 with four runs scored.

Cornwell finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Lewis, Nist and Lichty collected two RBI apiece.

Young (2-2) stranded nine runners. He struck out six and walked three in pitching his first complete game.

"Matt did a good job of battling," Whittemore said. "That's weird when you have a nine-run lead. He did a good job of just continuing to pitch, and the offense did a good job of extending the lead and having good at-bats."

The Wildcats also struck first in Game 2.

Lichty's two-out base hit in the third inning plated Cornwell. Lichty also figured in the second run scoring as he got caught in a run-down between first and second bases, giving Mannens time to steal home.

Left-hander Jordy Van den Heuvel was effective in his longest outing of the season. Van den Heuvel gave up one hit in his three scoreless innings.

The Golden Eagles scored a fourth-inning run against reliever Jordan Dreibelbis to trim WNC's lead to 2-1 and tied the score on Cole Walters' ground-out in the seventh.

The deadlock was short-lived as the Wildcats capitalized on four straight walks by relievers Tyler Rosas and Bailey Daugio to start the bottom of the seventh.

Following a bases-loaded walk to DJ Peters to break the tie, Lewis was hit by a pitch, scoring Barkdull for a 4-2 WNC lead.

Daugio also issued an RBI free pass to Nist, and Chad Bell added a sacrifice fly before the inning ended with WNC in command, 6-2.

Josh Mill worked two and one-third hitless innings to pick up his third win in as many decisions. He struck out two and walked one.

Mannens was 1-for-3 and scored twice in Game 2. Cornwell also scored two runs.

The four-game series concludes today with a twin-bill beginning at 11:30 a.m.

WNC improved to 12-6 overall and 2-0 in the SWAC with Thursday's double-header victories. CSI dropped to 13-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play.