The Joplin Outlaws fought back from an early deficit, but ultimately suffered a 10-9 loss to the Carroll Merchants on Monday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Merchants led 9-0 after two innings and 10-1 after four frames, but the Outlaws rallied for five runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the ninth.
“At the end of the day, we battled and we gave ourselves a chance to tie it and keep playing and we just couldn’t come through,” Outlaws manager Chris Dawson said after the game.
“Defensive mistakes put us in that hole early on, and we just have to clean it up before tomorrow.”
ON THE MOUND
Braden Karnes earned the win for Carroll after giving up seven runs in six innings on nine hits, one walk and five strikeouts.
Parker Tennill took the loss for Joplin after giving up nine runs in two innings against five hits, three walks and three strikeouts.
The Outlaws made five errors in the game.
“We’ve just got to clean it up defensively,” Dawson said. “If we’d played clean defensively we would have won that game.”
GAME ACTION
Carroll scored the first run of the night in the top of the first when Joshua Koskie singled to right field.
The Merchants tacked on a jaw-dropping eight runs in the second inning. Justin Johnson earned an RBI when he sent one with a sac fly to right field. Michael Alt singled to shortstop for an RBI. Koskie walked on loaded bases for another RBI. Bryce Yosko sent one home with a single to left field. Ethan Cole reached first on a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded, sending Alt home. Chris Hege earned two RBI when he reached first on an error. Blake Tigges sent one home with a double to center field and Hege scored on a wild pitch.
Joplin earned its first run in the third inning when Garrett Chun sent one home with a single to right field.
The Merchants regained their nine-run lead in the top of the fourth when Tigges singled to center field.
The Outlaws made a comeback in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on four hits. Caden Bressler singled to first base. Korrey Siracusa walked, pushing Bressler to second. Cole Hill reached first on an error by the pitcher, allowing Siracusa to advance to third and sending Bressler home. Next at the plate, Chun singled to right field advancing Hill to third and sending Siracusa home. Nixon Brannan doubled to right field and earned two RBI when Chun and Hill scored. Brannan scored when Kolton Reynolds doubled to right field.
Joplin tacked on another run in the sixth inning when Brannan earned an RBI with a single to shortstop.
The Outlaws entered the bottom of the ninth still trailing Carroll 10-7. Landon Meyer doubled to left field, sending one home and offering Joplin hope of a ninth-inning rally. At the plate next, Bressler grounded out to second base for an RBI. Joplin needed just one more run to push the game into an extra inning, but Merchants pitcher Braden Fowler didn’t give them any further opportunities.
“Hats off to Landon Meyer today, throwing three and getting that big hit there at the end,” Dawson said.
AT THE PLATE
Brannan earned three RBI and scored a run on two hits, while Chun earned two RBI and scored a run on two hits. Hill earned an RBI and scored a run on one hit. Reynolds earned an RBI and scored a run on two hits. Bressler earned an RBI and scored twice on two hits. Meyer earned an RBI on two hits.
For the Merchants, Tigges earned two RBI and scored a run on three hits, while Hege earned two RBI and scored twice.
ON DECK
Joplin looks for redemption in the second game of a two-game series at 7 p.m on Tuesday at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Outlaws will play Sedalia on Wednesday night in a doubleheader after last Thursday’s game was canceled due to severe weather. Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m.
