[StLee]

Two-Run Ninth Propels Radscorpions

Trailing 6-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, North Vegas was down to its last out, but a two-RBI single by Arthur Glass turned a potential loss into a 7-6 Radscorpions win over Goodsprings in Game One of the Mojave Series.

George O’Kill started the inning with a single. With one out, Bill Cole also singled. Squirrel And then grounded out to first base to advance the runners with two outs. Glass then hit his game-winning single on a 3-1 count to score both runners.

Goodsprings had taken the lead in the top of the inning. Java Stirfry began with a double. He then advanced to third on a Tony Smith ground out. Mike Duncan followed that up by hitting a sacrifice fly for the 6-5 lead.

The Lucky 38s started off the game in scoring, too. In the first inning, Stu Vanstone hit a one-out solo home run off North Vegas starter Nate Camp. Jimmy LaRue then doubled and stole third base. Jesus Martinez then hit into an RBI ground out for a 2-0 lead.

Goodsprings extended that lead in the third. Duncan bunted himself on base to lead off and stole second. With one out, LaRue reached on an error by second baseman Ernest Emmons to score Duncan. LaRue was later caught trying to steal third, making a single by Martinez and double by Stu Wilkins obsolete. Still, the Lucky 38s were up 3-0.

In the bottom of the third, the Radscorpions finally answered. With two outs, Nelson Kirby singled. O’Kill followed that up with a two-run home run to cut the Goodsprings lead to 3-2.

North Vegas then took control in the fourth. Cole led off with a double, followed by an And double to tie the game, 3-3. Donald Bush then walked the next two batters to load the bases with no outs. Camp then hit an RBI single for the 4-3 lead. Emmons followed by reaching on an error to make it 5-3 with the bases still loaded. Bush finally got his act together afterwards, getting the 2-3-4 hitters out consecutively.

Goodsprings cut into that lead in the fifth. Duncan doubled to lead off the inning. He then advanced to third on a Vanstone ground out and scored on an RBI ground out by LaRue for a 5-4 Radscorpions advantage.

That one-run deficit became none in the seventh. John Mulvaney replaced Camp and got the first two Lucky 38s batters out. Vanstone then began the two-out rally with a single. LaRue then followed with a single to move Vanstone to third. When LaRue attempted to steal second, North Vegas catcher Weldon Brown put the ball into center field, giving Vanstone the go-ahead to push his run across and tie the game, 5-5.

O’Kill was named the game’s MVP by going 2 for 5 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored, and scoring the tying run in the ninth.

Basket Zapp was the winning pitcher, despite only pitching one-third of an inning. Goodsprings closer Willie Miller blew a save and was the losing pitcher.