Chillicothe took the lead early Friday night and held on for an 8-4 win over the Joplin Outlaws at Joe Becker Stadium.
After Chillicothe took an early lead, Joplin tied it up with two unearned runs in the bottom of the third.
The Mudcats retook the lead in the top of the fifth and the Outlaws trailed the rest of the game, despite scoring two runs in the sixth inning.
“We’ve just got to clean up the little things, and eventually our offense will get clicked in,” Outlaws manager Chris Dawson said about his team’s performance. “We’re too talented not to. We barreled baseballs left and right today, they just didn’t fall for us. Just a tough day.”
After an hour-long rain delay, Chillicothe took the lead in the top of the first inning when Ben Kasparie sent one home with a single to right field. The Mudcats scored again in the second inning when Noah Hata earned an RBI with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Joplin scored two runs in the bottom of the third, both unearned. Ethan Krueger walked before advancing to second on a passed ball. Jaret Nelson walked to first before Treghan Parker hit a fly ball that brought Kreuger to third. Nelson then stole second before he and Kreuger scored runs on a wild pitch by Chillicothe’s Cabezuedo, tying the game.
The Mudcats retook the lead after scoring on a passed ball in the top of the fifth. They scored twice more that inning, extending their lead to 5-2.
The Outlaws brought the score to 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Garrett Chun earned an RBI after reaching on a fielder’s choice and Nelson brought one home with a single to left field.
Chillicothe tacked on one insurance run each inning for the rest of the game, and Joplin failed to score in the final innings.
Chris Massey took a no-decision for Joplin after pitching four innings in which he gave up two runs on four hits, four walks and five strikeouts. Sullivan Lane took the loss in relief after giving up four runs in three innings on three hits, three walks and one strikeout.
Jayden Cabezuedo started and took a no-decision for Chillicothe after pitching 2 ⅔ innings in which he gave up two walks and four runs but no hits. Koby Linder earned the win in relief after giving up two runs in 6 ⅓ innings on three hits, five walks and four strikeouts.
Nelson sent one home, had two hits and added a run. Chun also earned an RBI.
Hata earned two RBI for Chillicothe on one walk and two strikeouts. Peyton Becker scored once and sent two home on two hits and two walks without any strikeouts.
Summer collegiate baseball action continues at 7 p.m. on Saturday night when the Outlaws take on the Joplin Playmakers in a ‘Military Night’ exhibition game.
MUDCATS 7, OUTLAWS 1
Joplin lost 7-1 to Chillicothe on Thursday at Joe Becker Stadium in spite of a ninth inning rally.
After two quiet innings at the plate, Chillicothe took a two-run lead in the top of the third and held onto it with help from pitcher Karter Much, who gave up no hits in the first five innings of the game. Joplin rallied in the ninth inning, landing its first hit and first run of the game, but to no avail.
Asked about the number of runs the Outlaws gave up Thursday night, Dawson noted his pitchers have work to do.
“As a pitching staff we’re just giving up way too many free bases, and when we pitch to contact, and we throw balls over the plate we’re really good. We give our offense a chance.”
Steen Lane took the no-decision after four innings of play in which he gave up four runs on four hits, five walks and five strikeouts. Eli Stoops took the loss in relief after two innings with three runs on three hits two walks and a strikeout.
Karter Muck earned the win for Chillicothe after five scoreless innings on three walks, no hits and eight strikeouts.
After two quiet innings for both teams, the Mudcats took the lead in the top of the third with two runs, each earned when a batter walked with the bases loaded.
Chillicothe scored twice more in the fourth inning. One run scored on an error, the other when a batter reached on a fielder’s choice with bases loaded.
The Mudcats brought three more home in the sixth inning, bringing the score to 7-0.
The Outlaws only earned their first hit of the game when Jason Lazo singled to center field in the bottom of the ninth, but as Dawson noted, “the box score is not going to tell the true story.”
Dawson says he isn’t worried about how his team has been performing at the plate because in spite of a strong performance by Chillicothe’s outfield and pitching staff, the Outlaws have been getting good contact.
“We barreled balls today, especially there late…. We put good swings on baseballs.
“We faced a guy who’s going to be a weekend pitcher for KU, and he was who he was supposed to be,” Dawson said, referencing University of Kansas product Karter Muck, who gave up no hits in his five innings on the mound. “He did what an ace is supposed to do.”
Additionally, Dawson says Joplin is still finding its footing as new players arrive, but he stresses that it’s still early.
“We’re just going to keep putting one foot in front of the other,” he said. “The summer is still young. The season is still young.”
Joplin earned its first and only run of the night when Kolden Howeton walked on loaded bases, sending Lazo home.
Howerton earned Joplin’s only RBI. Lazo had one hit and scored once.
Tanner Sears earned two RBI on two hits. Nathan Maclaran and Noah Hota each sent one home and scored once for the Mudcats.
OUTLAWS 9, BOMBERS 3
SEDALIA, Mo. — Joplin halted a four-game losing streak on Tuesday night with a knockout 9-3 victory over Sedalia at Liberty Park Stadium.
Joplin took a three-run lead in the first inning and ran with it. Despite a late game rally from Sedalia, Joplin was able to match the Bombers run for run, maintaining their lead through to the ninth inning.
Landon Meyer earned the win for Joplin after six scoreless innings on three hits, four walks and nine strikeouts.
Reid Plum took the no-decision after giving up three runs in four innings on three hits, four walks and four strikeouts. Carter DeGondea earned the loss in relief after two innings with three runs on five hits and four strikeouts.
Kolton Reynolds homered in the top of the first inning, bringing two home with him and earning Joplin a three-run lead. The following four innings were quiet at plate for both teams, thanks in part to strong pitching from Meyer.
Cole Hill sent one home with a single in the top of the sixth, bringing the score to 4-0 for the Outlaws.
In the top of the seventh, Meyer earned an RBI with a single to second base before stealing second and third. He made it home when Karson Green reached first on an error by the shortstop.
After a hard six innings, the Bombers finally caught a break in the seventh inning. Zach Rennard earned Sedalia’s first RBI of the game after walking with the bases loaded and Zach Dillman brought the score to 6-2 when he reached on a fielder’s choice.
William Kelley singled to first base in the eighth inning, sending one home and securing Joplin’s lead.
Joplin piled on more insurance runs in the ninth inning. Brett Sarwinski brought one home with a single to first base and Caden Myers sent Sarwinski home with a single to shortstop.
Jack Perwett sent one home for the bombers in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly to center field that earned him an RBI.
Reynolds earned three RBI with four hits and two runs. Kelley earned one RBI on one hit. Hill had two hits, scored once and added an RBI. Meyer had two hits, scored twice and brought one home. Sarwinski scored once, had one hit and added an RBI. Myers had one RBI on two hits.
Dillman brought one home on one hit. Perwett and Rennard both earned one RBI without any hits. Nic Beech, Caleb Briggs and Jazhan Amill each scored a run.
Also, the Outlaws suffered a 7-3 loss to the Bombers on Wednesday night.
Burgi previously coached at McDonald County, Joplin and Hollister and played collegiately at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin.
“We’ve got a different look, a different group, all those things,” Pfeifer said. “A lot of changes. Ultimately, we just know that summertime is the time to get better and that’s our goal here. It was our first day. We just had a little practice today before we came out here and competed. We know that we have to keep getting better, and that we have a long summer ahead of us.
