Joplin split a home twinbill on Wednesday night, defeating Sedalia in the first game but suffering a loss in the second game at Joe Becker Stadium.
JOPLIN 2, SEDALIA 1
The Outlaws won the opening game of the doubleheader by just one run, 2-1, in a game marked by scoreless innings and strong pitching from both sides.
ON THE MOUND
Steen Lane earned the win for the Outlaws after giving up one run in six innings on two hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
Peyton Messer took the no-decision for Sedalia after pitching six scoreless innings on three hits, a walk and six strikeouts. Chase Stumfoll took the loss after giving up two runs in one inning on two hits, no walks and no strikeouts.
“You can’t be mad at the first win. We had two good pitchers going back at it. They were able to scratch one across and we were able to finally answer there when they took the Lefty out,” Joplin manager Chris Dawson said, referencing Sedalia’s Messer.
“It was a good come-from-behind win. We’ve learned over the last week and a half that we are never out of a baseball game. Winning game one was huge, obviously. I think that at least guarantees us a home playoff game, whether that’s the wild card game or the divisional game.”
GAME ACTION
Sedalia took the lead with a run in the fifth inning. Ryan Retone earned the RBI after reaching first on an error by the second baseman.
Joplin answered with two runs in the seventh inning, earning them the win. Cole Hill sent one home with a single to center field and Landon Meyer hit a sac fly out to center field.
AT THE PLATE
Hill earned an RBI on a hit and a strikeout, while Meyer sent one home without any hits or walks.
Retone earned an RBI without any hits, walks or strikeouts.
SEDALIA 14, JOPLIN 10
In the nightcap, both teams traded blows in the first three innings before the Bombers seized the lead with a seven-run inning that left Joplin in a hole it couldn’t climb out of.
ON THE MOUND
Grant Burson earned the win for Sedalia after giving up ten runs in six innings on 10 hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Caden Bressler took the loss for Joplin after giving up nine runs in four innings on 10 hits, three walks and four strikeouts.
GAME ACTION
The Bombers took the lead in the top of the first when Dalton Miller singled to center field.
Jaret Nelson got the Outlaws started with a double to center field that sent one home.
Sedalia took the lead back in the top of the second when Nic Beech doubled to left field for two RBI.
The Outlaws answered with three runs in the bottom of the second. William Kelley hit a sac fly to left field for an RBI. Korrey Siracusa stepped to the plate next and walked to first. Siracusa scored when Garret Chun hit a homer for two RBI.
The Bombers gained a one-run lead in the top of the third. Caden Paxston singled to center field and Sam Benz doubled to left field, each earning an RBI.
The Bombers scored a crushing seven runs in the fourth inning, securing a lead that the Outlaws wouldn’t be able to take back.
Sedalia tacked on another two runs in the sixth inning.
Joplin rallied with three runs scored in the sixth inning and another three runs in the seventh. Cole Hill, William Kelley, Jaret Nelson and Jason Lazo each earned an RBI in the following innings. Additionally, Nelson scored twice on his own- once on a passed ball and once on a wild pitch.
“Not the first time I’ve been on the wrong side of that in my baseball career,” Dawson said of Sedalia’s knockout fourth inning. “It’s just tough when that happens.”
“When we have opportunities, defensively or offensively, we’ve just got to take them. We didn’t do that in game two and it came back to bite us. Hats off to the offense for fighting back there,” Dawson said, referencing his team’s late-inning runs.
AT THE PLATE
Nic Beech earned four RBI and scored once on two hits, a walk and a strikeout. Retone earned two RBI and scored a run on one hit. Benz earned two RBI and scored twice on two hits, two walks and a strikeout. Zach Dillman earned two RBI on three hits and a strikeout. Additionally, Zach Rennard, Dalton Miller and Caden Paxston each earned an RBI.
Nelson and Chun earned two RBI and scored twice. Kelley earned two RBI on one strikeout and without any walks or hits. Hill and Lazo also each earned an RBI.
ON DECK
Joplin will take to the road to play a three-game series against Jefferson City on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Outlaws will play their final home game at 7 p.m. on Sunday at Joe Becker Stadium.
“It would have been nice to win two tonight, but we only won one. We still control our destiny,” Dawson said after the game. “We just have to win two more out of the four (remaining games).”
