Looking to move past a mercy-rule loss to Goshen earlier this week, the Warsaw baseball team set their eyes on a different Northern Lakes Conference opponent on Friday: Plymouth. The Tigers started fast, scoring seven runs in the first inning en route to a 10-2 victory.
The Pilgrims were able to tag starter Reed Nelson in the top of the first, as first baseman Parker Wolfe got a hold of one and sent the ball over the left field fence for a two-run home run. Nelson responded nicely, striking out the next two hitters to end the inning.
That lead didn’t last for long, as the Tigers answered in a big way. Kellan Bailey and Cohen Heady got the scoring started for Warsaw with a pair of RBI singles that allowed the home side to tie things up. Hunter Dippon brought both of them, as well as himself, home on the first pitch he saw. The Tiger first baseman launched the ball into right-center field and over the fence for a three-run shot.
It didn’t end there either, as Rogan Bailey picked up an RBI on a groundout, while Wyatt Statpleton added another on an error at shortstop. The end result was a seven-run inning that turned a two-run deficit into a five-run lead.
Nelson picked up his third punch out of the game to begin the top of the second, as well as a 6-3 to end the inning after holding the Pilgrims scoreless. The new pitcher for Plymouth, Preston Wolfe, shut down the Tiger offense this time up, going 1-2-3 to send things to the third.
The Pilgrims were able to put runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the frame, but were shut down as Nelson was able to put the rally to bed.

    Senior Oliver Nisen comes through with a base hit during Warsaw's big first inning...Nieter

Warsaw was able to get back on the scoreboard its next time up. Starting with a single by Oliver Nisen, he was moved to third on a hit by Brandt Martin. Preston attempted to pick Martin off one too many times, and the ball ended up in right field and Nisen at home. Martin ended up scoring himself on an RBI single by Wyatt Stapleton.
Nelson, now pitching with quite a lead, retired the Pilgrim hitters in order for his first clean inning of the game. The Tigers added two more hits to their total in the bottom half of the frame, but were unable to extend their lead.
Zac Miller took over for Nelson on the mound to begin the fifth and picked up right where his fellow senior left off. Miller retired the side without giving up a run, leading to the fourth straight scoreless inning thrown by Tiger pitchers. Warsaw was unable to get any more runs on the board here either, moving things to the sixth.
Brock Bowser became the third Tiger pitcher here, working around loading the bases with three strikeouts to keep the Warsaw lead at seven with only three outs left for Plymouth to work with. A bases-loaded walk earned by Martin gave Warsaw one more run to work with as the two teams reached the seventh inning.
The final inning was not a dramatic one, as Quinton Brock struck out three hitters to finish things off and give his team a much-needed conference win.
Warsaw (4-3, 2-1 NLC) is at Manchester on Saturday.