El Dorado, Kan. - The El Dorado Broncos’ loss to the Nevada Griffons Tuesday night at McDonald Stadium could be chalked up to one factor: a lack of key hits in clutch situations. The Broncos left nine runners on base in a 3-0 loss to the Griffons, El Dorado’s 10th loss in their last 12 games. This is the fourth time this season the Broncos have been shut out, including twice in the last five games. Nevada picked up an early run in the top of the first inning against Bronco starting pitcher Chris Hord. A leadoff double by Taylor House and an error on a botched rundown set up an RBI groundout by Colby Mintken. In the meantime, the Broncos had chances to score runs early in the game. In the bottom of the first, Matt Davis was hit by a pitch and went all the way around to third on a wild pickoff throw by Nevada starting pitcher Michael Ratigan. With one out, Matt Koch’s fly ball to shallow center field was not deep enough to score the run, and Preston Springer also flew out to end the inning. In the second, Mike Williams and Chris Biguenet singled to start the inning. Eric Hignojos attempted to sacrifice, but Williams was forced out at third. Chad Daleiden flew out deep to right, and Bryant Cotton hit a line drive right to the shortstop. Davis led off the third with a double and went to third on a groundout by Jaime Armendariz. Koch struck out for the second out, however, and Springer lined out to left field. Davis doubled again in the fifth with two out but was left on base. The Griffons went ahead 2-0 in the top of the fifth on a run-scoring single by catcher Mark Wyatt, then added a run in the sixth on a double by Ryan Shay and an RBI single by Ryan Peterson. The Broncos’ last big scoring chance came in the seventh. Daleiden walked with one out, Davis bunted for a base hit with two out and Armendariz walked to load the bases. Ratigan was replaced by Alex Kent, who retired Koch on a fly ball to right field to get out of the inning. Davis was not retired in the game, recording two doubles and a single and being hit by a pitch, but the rest of the team managed just three hits, one each from Springer, Williams and Biguenet. Hord had a solid start, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts over six innings. Matt Kimball allowed just one walk over three scoreless innings of relief. The Broncos turned three double plays but were also charged with five errors. One odd Jayhawk League note: It was announced late Tuesday the Joplin Southwest Slashers have officially folded. Jayhawk League Commissioner Bob Considine ruled Joplin will finish with an 0-36 league record, and those teams who have lost to the Slashers will be given victories. That will make the Broncos’ record 16-16 in league play and 26-18 overall.