Mavericks fall to Riverhawks

The Mid-Missouri Mavericks’ pitching and fielding didn’t give them much of a chance to win.

In a 13-3 loss to the Rockford Riverhawks on Friday night at Taylor Stadium, the Mavericks committed nine errors and gave up 13 hits. The loss dropped the Mavericks to 29-45, and the Riverhawks improved to 38-35.

The Mavs’ difficulties started quickly. They committed five errors in the top of the first inning.

Riverhawks leadoff man, Tony Pigott singled and advanced to third on two wild pitches by Mavericks starter Grant Dorn. Then Dorn walked Doug Schutt and struck out Ben Fjelland, but when Dorn was facing Tory Haven, a wild pick-off throw to first allowed Pigott to score. Haven’s sacrifice fly to center field drove in Schutt.

With two out and no men on, all the Mavericks needed was an out. It took a while longer.

Rich Austin and Kiley Vaughn both reached on Mavericks' errors. Austin advanced to third on another wild pick-off throw by Dorn, this time to second. Austin made it home when Vaughn attempted to steal second. Mavericks catcher Jose Carreno's throw to shortstop Cooper Vittitow caught Vaughn, but Vittitow’s throw back to Carreno to stop Austin was wild and the Riverhawks went ahead 3-0. The inning ended when Dorn struck out Jan Ramos.

After scoring three in third, the Riverhawks added two more in the fourth with the help of another Mavericks' error to claim an 8-1 lead.

Haven walked and Austin singled to start the Riverhawks’ fourth. With two outs, Kiley Vaughn’s infield single drove in Haven. A wild throw to first by Mavericks third baseman Seth Brown allowed Austin to score.

The Riverhawks scored five runs in the eighth. Austin, the Riverhawks’ right fielder, was 2-for-4 with two runs.

After scoring one run in the first, the Mavericks did not score until the bottom of seventh when Blake Blase hit a two-run home run over the left-field fence off Rockford reliever David Troyer.

The Riverhawks' starter, Jason Pilkingston (1-0) earned his first win of the season. He threw six innings, striking out five and allowing two hits and one run. Troyer threw three innings for his first save of the season.

Dorn (5-6) threw three innings, giving up nine hits and eight runs. Bryan Ross, one of four Mavericks relievers, threw two innings, giving up four runs and three walks.