NEVADA, Mo. — Nevada jumped out to an early three-run lead and held off Joplin late for a 4-3 win on Tuesday.
The Griffons and Outlaws took a scoreless game into the third inning when Nevada plated three runs to take the advantage. Joplin cut into the lead in the sixth inning with two runs touching home before the Griffons answered back in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 4-2. The Outlaws rallied with a run in the eighth but couldn’t push the tying run across before the final out.
With the win, Nevada improves to 14-15 and is in a tie for first place in the South Division standings with Sedalia (14-45). Jefferson City is tied with Joplin for third place with a 12-15 record.
Nevada’s Cameron Saso highlighted the three-run third inning with an RBI single to score Matthew Leong. Kahle Good and Jack Swisher also touched home in the inning.
Joplin’s Caleb Feuerstake tripled home Brett Wiemers to get the Outlaws on the board in the sixth inning. Ethan Ellis added a single later in the inning to score Feuerstake and trim Joplin’s deficit to 3-2.
Braeden Hinton scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth to push the lead to 4-2.
In the last of the eighth with two on and two out, Brandon Ulmer singled home Feuerstake, but Ellis was thrown out at the plate to preserve the lead for Nevada.
Richard Kiel started and earned the win for Nevada after allowing three runs on six hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in eight innings. Sebastian Kirchner earned the save after striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Reese Weaks took the loss for Joplin after giving up three runs on four hits, four walks and one strikeout in three innings. Masayuki Maruhashi allowed one run in three innings. He walked four, struck out one and didn’t allow a hit. Austin Gottula pitched two scoreless innings on two hits, a walk and a strikeout.
Good and Hinton each had two hits to lead Nevada at the plate. Good scored a run and drove in one. Leong doubled, scored a run and drove in one.
Ellis led Joplin with two hits and an RBI. Feuerstake tripled, scored twice and drove in one. Wiemers had a hit and scored a run. Ulmer had a hit and drove in one.
Joplin hosts Jefferson City at 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Joe Becker Stadium.
