Nevada Bighorns coach Dennis Young admitted he was at a loss for words after another losing effort against the Redding Colt 45s.
"I don't know what to say," Young said after Thursday's 19-5 loss at Western Nevada College. "It happens. It's baseball. We could turn around and do the same things to the other team."
The Bighorns won't have much time to reflect on Thursday's loss. They host the San Francisco Seagulls in a non-league game at 5 p.m. today at WNC. The teams play a doubleheader at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Pitching is quickly becoming a weak point for the Bighorns, especially when they have a long week like they did this week. Starter Blake Nahlen was yanked with two outs in the fourth after yielding six runs; Tony Fagan, Joey Webb (for the third straight day) and Cameron Mayville went to the mound after Nahlen. Fagan was the most effective, throwing 2.1 innings and allowing a run, but after coming off surgery, he is being watched closely by Young. Wear and tear showed on Webb, who gave up 11 runs in 1.2 innings. All told, the Bighorns gave up 19 hits.
"Usually the first two innings Blake struggles and then he settles down," Young said. "I don't think he ever got in a groove today. We've had a long week, and we don't have much of a bullpen. Joey has been out there every night. Tony (Fagan) tells me when he is done. We talk all the time; after every inning."
The only time the Bighorns led was in the first when they scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead.
Jon Sigado doubled and scored on a two-out error, which enabled Jordan Hadlock to reach base. Hadlock scored on Adam Miller's single. Miller advanced to third on a single by Tim Lewis, but Shane Kockenmeister forced Lewis at second to end the inning.
Redding scored five in the fourth on five hits to grab a 7-2 lead. Garrett Yatch tripled in two runs, while Andrew Trepel, Josh Corson and Kolt Canaday drove in a run apiece.
The Bighorns fought back with three in the bottom of the fourth. Phil Mannelly singled, moved to second on an infield roller and scored on Sigado's double to left-centerfield. Phil Sacks walked and Eric Maupin drove in Sigado with a single to make it 7-4. After Hadlock's infield single, Miller followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Sacks. The play turned into a double play when Maupin was thrown out between second and third trying to advance.
That was it for the Bighorns' offense. Over the final four innings, Nevada managed just two baseruners and one hit. The hit was by Sigado, who went 4-for-4 with three doubles.
"He (Sigado) had a great night," Young said. "He hit the ball really well."
After scoring a run in the sixth to make it 8-5, Redding scored five in the seventh and seven in the eighth to make it a rout. They batted around each inning. Curti Boek, Jaret Bogue, Corson, Andrew Trepel and Andrew Lassen drove in two runs apiece over the final two innings.