The Nevada Wolf Pack (6-3) came into the second game of the Central Arkansas series riding a three-game winning streak following a 17-10 defeat of the Bears on Friday in their home opener. Chris Garcia continued the streak as he brought his sparkling 1-0 record and 0.90 ERA into Peccole Park to make his home debut on the young season.

Countering for Central Arkansas was Bobby Pritchett and his 1-0 record and 3.12 ERA in two games so far for the Bears. Garcia looked sharp early and made a great defensive play in the first to help his cause.  With a runner on first and one out Garcia snared a high bounce with his bare hand and went to first for the out.  Garcia slipped while fielding the ball and appeared to twist his ankle but stayed in the game. Central Arkansas got on the board two pitches later as Blake Roberts hit a 2-run home run over the wall in left center field for his second homer of the year.  Garcia came back strong as he struck out Jake Fuller to end the inning with the Bears on top 2-0.

Nevada responded in the bottom of the first on a two-run home run by Brian Barnett, who also homered during the Pack’s opening win. for the second straight day.  Scoring on the dinger was Kevin Rodland who was hit by a pitch. Rodland advanced to third when Westely Moss ripped a single to center as the first inning ended 2-2.

The Wolf Pack overcame some adversity in the top of the second when Garcia took a line drive off the forearm with one out.  Garcia recovered nicely by getting Zack Dickson to hit into a 5-4-3 double play to get out of the inning.
Central Arkansas took the lead in the top of the fourth by keeping the Nevada outfield busy.  Moss made a nice diving catch to retire the first batter and Ronnie Mitchell made a nice catch ranging to his right to get two out.  However, Blake Roberts reached on an infield single for the Bears and came around to score on a gap shot to right field by Tye Throneberry to put the Bears up 3-2 in the fourth.

Nevada took the lead in the fifth when they got runners on first and second with two out with slugger Shaun Kort at the plate.  Kort ripped a shot off the top of the right field wall for a 2-RBI double to give Nevada a 4-3 lead.  Central Arkansas got out of a bases loaded jam when third baseman Blake Roberts caught a laser shot line drive down the hot corner by Nick Leid. Roberts snared the ball on a line in what was an outstanding defensive play on a hot shot.

The Pack extended their lead in the sixth when Ronnie Mitchell scored from second on a single by Rodland to give the Silver and Blue a 5-3 lead.  The hit marked the end of the day for Bears starter Bobby Pritchett who was replaced by Evan Cox.  Pritchett finished the game with 4 strikeouts while giving up five runs on 11 hits in five and a third innings pitched. Cox came in and gave up an infield single to Moss that loaded the bases.  Central Arkansas got out of the jam when Kort hit into a questionable double play that got Nevada coach Gary Powers out of the dugout.  It appeared as though Moss snuck by second baseman Kyle Prevett who attempted to tag Moss as he ran past but Moss was banged out by the umpire at third and Kort was out at first to complete the double play and end the inning.

Wolf Pack starter Chris Garcia was pulled in the seventh following a one out double by Bears catcher Michael Marietta.  Garcia finished the day with 2 strikeouts while giving up three earned runs on seven hits in six and a third innings pitched.   Replacing Garcia was Rickey Denham who gave up an unearned run on a sacrifice fly Prevett.  Denham was pulled in favor of lefty Mat Keplinger, who was making his home debut after a terrible preseason head injury.
Keplinger retired the one batter he faced with some quality pitching.  After opening a 2-0 count Keplinger came back with an 86 MPH fastball and back to back off speed pitches to get the pack out of the inning with a 5-4 lead.
Keplinger started the eighth with a walk but got an out when Michael Pair was called out for batters interference on an attempted steal by Bears runner Ethan Harris.  After arguing with the umpire Pair was ejected and Keplinger was pulled in favor of righty Tyler Graham.

Graham gave up a go-ahead 2-RBI double to Jake Fuller off the top part of the wall that brought around the two runs to put Central Arkansas ahead 6-5 in the eighth. The Pack threatened in the bottom of the eighth when Ronnie Mitchell led off with a walk.  Mitchell advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Turay.  Nick Melino came up with a big pinch hit single that put runners on the corner with one out.  Kevin Rodland walked on a close pitch that sent the Bears dugout into a frenzy. On a 3-2 count Bears pitcher Evan Cox threw a tight curveball that the umpire called a ball.  Head coach Doug Clark and, according to Ryan Radtke, Bears pitching coach Ronnie Goodwin were tossed immediately as the field umpires had to intervene in the altercation. It was one of the more animated arguments you’ll ever see on a diamond.

With the bases loaded for Westely Moss and the Pack down by one Nevada looked ready to do some damage.   Moss walked to score the tying run and slugger Shaun Kort singled to right field to give the Pack a 7-6 lead with one out.  Brian Barnett walked to get his 14th RBI of the season as the Pack got an insurance run. Nevada pushed the lead even further when Nick Leid sent the first pitch from Jeremy Brewer off the top of the center field wall just feet short of a grand slam for a 2-RBI double.  Ronnie Mitchell hit a two run single in his second at bat of the inning to give the Pack a 13-6 edge.

The victory moved the Pack to 7-3 on the year and they will attempt to sweep the first home series of the year when they face off against Central Arkansas in the series finale tomorrow at 1 pm.

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