Taking advantage of a game-ending balk in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Joplin Outlaws earned a 6-5 win over the Sedalia Bombers on Thursday night in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.
A fourth straight win puts the Outlaws (18-18) in first place in the South Division standings, with Sedalia (17-18) a close second.
The game was deadlocked at five in the bottom of the ninth when Carson Carpenter scored the winning run from third when Sedalia’s pitcher was called for a balk.
The clash was scoreless until the fourth, as Max Bruff hit a two-run home run to give the Outlaws the lead.
The Bombers got a run back in the fifth on a sac fly from Zach Dillman, but the Outlaws responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
During the inning, Bruff contributed a sac fly, with Caden Bressler scoring on the play, before Tyler Davis added a two-run single to center, scoring Joe Ricchio and Matt Campbell for a 5-1 advantage.
The Bombers plated three runs in the sixth and one in the top of the ninth to tie the game.
Bruff drove in three runs on two hits for the Outlaws, while Davis had two RBI. Bressler and Bruff had two hits apiece.
A.J. Moreno started and went 4 1/3 innings for the Outlaws, striking out six. Casey Thibault, Cameron Hill, Cole White and Justin Schrader pitched in relief. Schrader picked up the win.
The Outlaws host the Nevada Griffons (12-23) at 7 on Friday night.
