Staff photo / Preston Byers Springfield's Parker Dobson hurls a pitch during the Tigers' game Thursday against Mineral Ridge in Struthers.

STRUTHERS — For the first time since its season opener nearly a month ago, Mineral Ridge surrendered more than a run in a game. Unfortunately for the Rams, Springfield scored a lot more than just one; the Tigers dipped into double digits in a decisive, five-inning 10-0 victory at Bob Cene Park on Thursday.

Freshman pitcher Nick Anderson, who tossed a no-hitter in the first start of his high school career on March 28 against Waterloo, struggled with his control from the jump Thursday.

In the bottom of the first inning, he walked back-to-back batters and allowed a single to load the bases. Anderson then walked in the game’s first run on four pitches before allowing a single and throwing a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 ballgame.

Springfield scored two more runs in the second inning; the first came on an RBI double to center by Tigers pitcher Parker Dobson, who scored the fifth run of the game himself on a groundout.

Trailing 5-0, Mineral Ridge head coach Anthony Ragozine decided to replace Anderson with Christian Dunlap on the mound. In total, Anderson allowed four hits, five earned runs, four walks and struck out three batters in two innings pitched.

Dunlap’s relief pitching appearance began with a flyout before the Rams’ infield committed an error, putting a runner on base. Dunlap forced another flyout before surrendering a single and hitting back-to-back batters, the latter of which scored Springfield’s sixth run. The Tigers added two more on another Mineral Ridge infield error and another two runs on a double to center field to extend their lead to 10-0.

While Mineral Ridge struggled from the mound, Dobson and the Springfield defense kept the Rams off of the scoreboard. Dobson allowed just one hit — a single in the top of the fourth inning — and struck out 11 batters in a dominant performance.

After the game, Springfield coach Terry Dobson said an outing like Anderson’s is just the “life of the pitchers.”

“I take pitching in fours; out of four games, you’re going to have one really good, you’re going to have one really bad, you’re going to have two that are mediocre. I think he had the bad game tonight. He’s a lot better pitcher than the walks that he gave up tonight,” Dobson said.

Mineral Ridge head coach Anthony Ragozine said much of the same and told Anderson that nights like Thursday happen to even the best pitchers.

“It happens. We started a freshman out there and we relieved him with a freshman. They gotta get the experience. It is what it is.

“You just got to learn from it and move on. It happens to the best of guys, so just kind of take it as a learning experience and get after it in your next start.”

The Rams take the field again on Saturday, when they are scheduled for a doubleheader against Lowellville and East Palestine. Springfield, which has played just five games due to the rainy conditions this month, meets Waterloo today.

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