Snappers drop Game One

Thanks to Joe for the great cards!

Beloit 3 at West Michigan 4

W: J. Nickerson (1-0, 3.00); L: A. Burnett (1-1, 2.08); SV: B. Jensen (3)
HR: WMI: J. Laster (3), S. Sizemore (2).

When it's playoff baseball it's going to be tight. That's the only way to describe Tuesday's first game in the MWL title series.

Alex Burnett walked the Whitecaps' James Skelton with one out in the first inning. Scott Sizemore would pop out, but Jeramy Laster hit a home run off Burnett to put 2 on the board for West Michigan.

Beloit answered back at the top of the second when Chris Parmelee doubled and Gregry Yersich singled to put 2 men on the bags with one in scoring position. Johan Nickerson fanned Danny Santiesteban, but former Miracle Matt Betsill drew a walk to load the bases. Nickerson then walked Garrett Olson forcing in a run. A Chris Cates double saw Yersich cross the plate to tie the game up, but Joe Benson hit into a double play to end the Snappers threat.

The game would stay tied until the bottom of the fifth. Gorkys Hernandez would reach on a fielding error by Cates. After Burnett took Sketon down swinging, Sizemore would put one yard over the left field wall to double the Whitecaps score.

Again the Snappers would answer back when Yersich got on base with ground ball out to center. With 2 outs, Betsill moved him to second. A throwing errory Audy Ciriaco put Garrett Olsen on base and let Yersich cross the plate, but Cates would come up empty against Nickerson to end the inning.

Beloit's best chance to tie the game came in the 8th with 2 outs when Santiesteban slammed a double out to left. Luis Marte would then intentionally walk Betsill to get at Olsen, who would fly out to end the inning.

The two teams will rematch tomorrow rookie southpaw Tyler Robertson taking the start for the Snappers against West Michigan lefty Duane Below at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Burnett pitched all 8 innings for the Snappers, allowing all 4 runs (3 earned) on 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 2. Nickerson struck out six, but allowed 7 hits and 2 walks over six innings. Brett Jensen picked up the save for the Tigers affiliate, striking out 2 in the ninth inning to preseve the Whitecaps win.

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