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MINK LEAGUE: Outlaws rally but fall to Griffons in extra innings

By:
Lucas Davis

The Joplin Outlaws rallied late but ultimately fell short in a 4-3 loss in 10 innings to the Nevada Griffons on Monday in MINK League South Division action at Joe Becker Stadium.

The Outlaws got the scoring starting in the first inning with a solo home run before the Griffons scored three runs in the fourth inning to take their first lead of the contest. Joplin rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. In the top of the 10th, Nevada loaded the bases with one out after a walk and two close calls at first on infield hits before pushing across the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly from Matthew Leong.

“It was tough,” Joplin manager Chris Dawson said of the loss. “We did a good job of battling back. The kids made a couple of mental mistakes, but they battled back. To have those two calls in the 10th was tough. Can’t do anything about it, but it was tough.”

ON THE MOUND

Richard Kiel earned the no-decision for the Griffons after limiting Joplin to three runs over seven innings, scattering five hits, walking two and striking out five. Sebastian Kirchner struck out four over two scoreless relief innings to earn the win and Cameron Saso earned the save with two strikeouts in a scoreless 10th inning.

Webb City native Cale McCallister earned the start and took a no-decision for the Outlaws after allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts in four innings of work. Gavin Heltemes pitched three scoreless innings of relief on one hit, two walks and a strikeout. Justin Schrader took the loss after allowing one run on two hits, a walk and six strikeouts in three innings of relief work.

DIVISION GLANCE

Jeff City now leads the MINK League South Division with a 13-10 record, with the Outlaws in second at 10-10. Nevada sits in third at 10-14, while Sedalia is in fourth at 10-13.

GAME ACTION

The Outlaws jumped out in front early when Logan Cline deposited an 0-1 pitch over the wall for a solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the first inning to give Joplin a 1-0 advantage.

“Logan’s home run was huge,” Dawson said. “We have been trying to get a first-inning run for a while. For him to get into that ball, I thought it was going to energize our guys. It did, we just couldn’t get anything going in the middle innings.”

Nevada had on eyes on tying the game in the top of the third inning after loading the bases with no outs. McCallister had other plans, getting a ground ball back to himself for a force at home before inducing a 6-4-3 double play in the next at-bat to end the threat without allowing a run.

The Griffons again loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but this time Nevada cashed in on its opportunity. Chase Beiter brought the first run home after reaching on an error following a fly ball to center field to tie the game. Saso followed with an RBI single to give Nevada a 2-1 advantage and Jack Swisher added an RBI on a sacrifice fly to left to push the lead to 3-1.

The Outlaws cut the deficit to one in the last of the seventh when Jared Toler led off the inning with a solo home run. Cam Pfafman doubled in the next at-bat before moving to third on a groundout by Lott. Jeb Jenkins tied the game up shortly after with a shallow single to center to plate Pfafman and tie the game at 3-3.

“Toler was able to get the barrel on one and hit it out, and that is something we have been waiting to see,” Dawson said. “That was good to see. Cam had the double and we had the right guy up to tie it. It was a good inning.”

Nevada loaded the bases with one out in the top of the 10th following a walk and two infield hits, both of which were close calls at first. The Griffons took the lead on a sacrifice fly to deep right by Matthew Leong to break the tie at 4-3. 

IN THE BOX

Tyler Davis led Nevada with two hits and a run scored, while Swisher, Leong and Saso each had one hit and one RBI. Leong also scored a run.

Cline and Toler each homered, scored a run and drove in one, while Pfafman doubled and scored to lead the Outlaws at the plate.

UP NEXT

Joplin hosts the Jeff City Renegades at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Joe Becker Stadium.

“It’s just next-pitch mentality,” Dawson said about bouncing back. “It would have been nice to come away with a W, but we have another big one tomorrow against Jeff City.”

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