Cloverdale rebounds for win Monday

"Cloverdale showed up today. Greencastle was nowhere to be found."

It was a quick line from Greencastle head coach Troy Remsburg, but one that summed up Monday's final WCC home game for the Tiger Cubs as they fell to Cloverdale 13-2.

Having lost 10-0 two days prior, the Clovers gave themselves a chance to get a piece of the WCC regular season title.

Cloverdale utilized walks to get runners on in the first as Greencastle starter Hunter Mitchell allowed the first two Clover batters to reach on free passes.

A fielder's choice that produced no outs loaded the bases for the visitors, who pushed their first run across on Mitchell's third walk of the inning to Justin Wilson.

A sac fly from Andrew Howard pushed a second run across, but the Clovers could not add on with two men still on base.

Ethan Atwood did the legwork in the third inning to make the score 3-0. After a single to get on, Atwood moved over on a Greencastle error, then stole third base and home on passed balls.

Cloverdale missed multiple shots in the fourth inning to move further ahead off new pitcher Cole Pohlar, who gave up three hits but induced three ground balls to get out of the inning unscathed.

Dylan Linton entered for the Tiger Cubs in the fifth inning but struggled with his command, walking the first two batters before recording the first out of the inning.

A single loaded the bases for the Clovers before a walk to Jordan Brinkman forced in a run, as did a second hit batsman. Atwood singled to drive in two runs to increase the Clover lead to 7-0.

Greencastle finally got on the board in the sixth inning after Ryan Battin started the inning with a single and stole second. Andy Bell singled to score Battin and pull a run back at 7-1.

Cloverdale would keep laying on runs, chasing Linton after he allowed the first two men in the inning to reach base. Brant Mangrum took the mound and walked his first man before Mannan hit a single to score the first run of the inning.

Brian Dale smashed a shot that was two feet short of clearing the left center field fence, bringing home two additional runs. Atwood grounded into a fielder's choice that scored another run to bump the lead to 11-1.

Another hit batsman reloaded the bases, giving Trevor Lockwood the chance to knock in a run on a single. William Whitinger singled in the final run of the inning to hand the Clovers a 13-1 advantage.

Ryan Pettit tripled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and later scored on Mangrum's single, but the run was little more than consolation for the Tiger Cubs, who sat tied with the Clovers in the WCC standings at the end of the day.

Cloverdale head coach Bryan Archer said afterward that Saturday's performance, along with a chance to get a piece of the WCC crown, inspired a better Monday performance.

"On Saturday, we did well at the plate. We were patient with our approach and put the bat on the ball against Battin. We waited for strikes and made contact on them but hit it at them and they made the plays," Archer said.

"Today, we did a lot better hitting liners and finding the gaps between the bases. We took the initiative today and our approach at the plate was better today than it was on Saturday."

"We knew we had to get a win today. We were in a do or die situation. I think we like that a little bit," Archer added.

"We needed a win to get a piece of the WCC title and used that to motivate the players. They were intense and did what they do best this season, which was to take care of the little things."

The Tiger Cubs came back from Monday's loss, scoring a 10-4 win over the Clovers Tuesday.

Battin pitched a complete game, allowing eight hits and striking out eight. He was also 2-for-5 with a home run.

Andy Bell had three hits on the night, including two home runs. Landon Miller added a double, with Pettit adding two hits.

At Greencastle

Cloverdale 201 040 6 -- 13

Greencastle 000 001 1 -- 2

WP -- Wilson (5-4)

LP -- Mitchell (4-2)

3B -- R. Pettit

2B -- Dale