A quick start and solid pitching were just the combination Nevada needed to concoct a 5-2 win over Perry Friday in non-conference baseball at Progressive Field.
The Cubs (6-20) scored twice on three hits in the top of the first inning, then added a run in the third to open a 3-0 lead. A run in the fourth brought the Bluejays (0-22) within two runs, but two tallies by the hosts in the fifth created a 5-1 bulge. Perry scored once in the sixth, but could come no closer as the search for the elusive first win has been reduced to two remaining chances.
Brock Dutton struck out 11 in the complete game win for the Cubs. He allowed two unearned runs on five hits and hit two batters with pitches.
Avery Meister went the distance for the Jays. He yielded five runs on eight hits and two hit batsmen while finishing with four strikeouts. Perry committed another six errors in the loss, but Meister was able to work around most, with only one Cub run unearned.
Three singles and a hit batter combined to give the Cubs a quick 2-0 lead, with a single, stolen base, ground out and sacrifice fly working to move the score to 3-0 in the third.
Keghan West opened the fourth with a base hit, with a throwing error on a two-out infield single from Conner Kenyon allowing West to race around the bases and score.
Two runs had crossed the plate in the top of the fifth when Dutton tried to score from second base on a James Carsrud single to right field. However, Dutton chose not to slide and plowed over Bluejay catcher Kenyon before the relay throw to arrive. He was ruled out for interference on the play.
Kato Dougan reached on an error to open the Perry sixth, then sped to third when a pick-off throw went wild. He scored later in the frame on a Kaden Boyer sac fly. Meister followed with a double, but Dutton induced a ground out to limit the damage.
Quinn Helmers had a single and Kaleb Olejniczak a double to account for the other Perry hits.
Thomas Crawford had two hits, two steals and two runs scored for Nevada, with Carsrud adding two singles while Grant Higgens drove in a pair of runs.
Perry will play at Pella Monday, then travel to Ballard Friday for a Class 3A District 3 semifinal.
