Sedalia scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning and added insurance in the ninth on the way to a 4-1 win in a pitcher’s duel over Joplin on Thursday in MINK League action at Joe Becker Stadium.
“I think for me, the best thing I saw today was just better baseball,” Joplin manager Gonzalo Gonzalez said. “Top to bottom, 1 through 9. We played better baseball, clean baseball. The game didn’t go our way, but the process of getting there was better.”
ON THE MOUND
Peyton Messer earned the win after allowing one run on four hits, four walks and six strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings pitched. Carter Degonia allowed one hit, walked one and struck out four in 3 1/3 scoreless relief innings.
Ethan Sally started and took the loss for Joplin after allowing two runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Gavin Stowell and Andrew Sumner combined for three scoreless relief innings, while Brett Graham and Cole White each allowed a run in a combined one inning of work.
“It goes back a couple of days, our pitching has been keeping us in games,” Gonzalez said. “Our offense needs to pick it up a little bit. We need to make sure our approach is there, and today it was. It was better than it has been. If we keep getting this from our pitching, and our offense comes back around, we’re going to be alright.”
The Bombers and Outlaws took a scoreless game into the fifth before Sedalia’s Kayden Williams singled to right field with one out and runners at the corners to plate the first run of the inning. Cade Shupe followed with a pinch-hit RBI single to right to bring home the second run for a 2-0 lead.
Joplin cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sam Fagan singled to left field to score Liam Bailey, who walked earlier in the frame.
The Bombers added two insurance runs in the ninth inning an RBI double from Williams and four walks in the inning, the last of which forced in a run.
AT THE PLATE
Williams had three hits, two RBI and scored a run to lead Sedalia in the box. Duffin Makings and Brayden McGinnis each had two hits.
Caden Bressler, Carson Johnson, Carson Carpenter and Michael Long all had hits for the Outlaws.
ON DECK
Joplin gets a chance for instant revenge as the Outlaws host Sedalia once again for a 7 p.m. matchup on Friday at Joe Becker Stadium.
