NEVADA, Mo. — The Joplin Outlaws suffered a 16-6 setback to the Nevada Griffons in eight innings on Tuesday night in MINK League summer collegiate baseball action at Lyons Stadium.
The Outlaws fell to 2-3 on the season, while the Griffons hiked their record to 3-2.
In the South Division matchup, the Griffons took an early lead when Sam Manwarren smacked a two-run home run over the fence in right field in the bottom of the first inning.
The Outlaws threatened in the second, as Sam Fagan and Cody Min singled before Joe Ricchio walked to load the bases with two outs. But Nevada starting pitcher Jonah Sarabia induced an inning-ending fly ball off the bat of Lucas McKain.
Nevada erupted for five runs in the bottom of the second.
After an error and two walks, Maximo DeLeon delivered a two-run single into left, chasing Outlaws starter Ethan Sally. After an out, Conner Culp touched Outlaws reliever A.J. Moreno for an RBI double into left for a five-run cushion. Manwarren added a two-run single up the middle for a 7-0 lead.
The Griffons extended their lead with three runs in the third, as DeLeon contributed an RBI single, Caleb Chance drove in a run with a groundout and another run came home on an error.
Down 10-0, Joplin plated two runs in the sixth when Caden Bressler walked before Max Bruff homered to center.
Nevada responded in the bottom half of the sixth, as Seth Gray hit an RBI double, Andrew Pickering added a run-scoring groundout and Tyler Monroe charged home from third on a wild pitch for a 13-2 advantage.
The Outlaws pushed across three runs in the seventh to extend the game. The first run scored after Michael Long doubled before four straight walks. Carson Carpenter drove in two with a single into right.
Joplin added a run in the eighth after three walks and Liam Bailey’s sac fly.
Nevada ended the game in walk-off fashion with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. A run scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch before Chance and Culp hit RBI singles up the middle.
Sarabia earned the pitching victory after going 6 1/3 innings for the Griffons.
The Outlaws used six pitchers. Sally took the loss. Moreno, Harold Baez, Connor Peck, Josh Harryman and Andrew Sumner all pitched in relief.
The Outlaws are at Sedalia on Thursday night, while the Griffons are at Clarinda on Wednesday.
