Joplin jumped out to a multi-run lead before Sedalia battled back in the middle innings on the way to a 9-5 win in MINK League South Division play on Wednesday at Joe Becker Stadium.
The Outlaws (11-11), still in first place in the division standings, trailed 1-0 before crossing home three times in the third inning on a home run ball to take a two-run advantage. The Bombers (12-13) cut into the lead with a run in the top of the fourth before Joplin scored twice in the bottom half to push the lead out to 5-3. A five-run sixth inning gave Sedalia the lead and the momentum, as the Bombers added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to seal the win.
“They just capitalized on every mistake whether it was an error or a walk,” Joplin manager Chris Dawson said. “They capitalized when they were supposed to and we kind of let our foot off the gas when we scored five in the middle innings. After yesterday, this one kind of stings but we have to move on.”
ON THE MOUND
Jake McMahill started and earned the win for Sedalia after allowing five runs on seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts in six innings. Tucker Nunnenkamp pitched two innings in relief and didn’t allow a run on two hits. Conner Wolf worked a scoreless ninth, allowing one hit.
John Kea started and took a no-decision for the Outlaws after allowing five runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Clayton Saporito took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts in two innings. Jake Algee allowed one run on one hit and two walks, with a strikeout, in one relief inning.
GAME ACTION
Sedalia reached the scoreboard first, plating a run in the top of the second inning when Braden DeSoria doubled with two outs and was driven in on a single from Zack Dillman in the next at-bat.
With runners on first and third and one out in the bottom of the third, Joplin’s Brett Wiemers fell down in an 0-2 hole before launching a ball over the wall in left field for a three-run homer to put the Outlaws on top 3-1.
“That is something we do well—we battle,” Dawson said. “Brett just kept getting pitches in the zone and kept fouling them off until he got a pitch he could handle. It was a good at-bat by him.”
Sedalia cut into the Outlaw lead in the top of the fourth when DeSoria came up with a two-out single to plate Gideon Antel to make the score 3-2.
Joplin added insurance in the bottom half of the inning, getting the run surrendered in the top half back when Brandon Ulmer tripled to right-center to score a run and push the lead to 4-2. Drake Angeron singled to right two batters later to plate Ulmer for a 5-2 lead.
“We have to take the positives out of it,” Dawson said. “With our pitching staff, five runs would normally do the job. We just had one bad inning—the sixth inning. Things happen. That’s baseball. We have to be able to find a way to rebound. … It just didn’t happen tonight.”
The Bombers tied the game up at 5-5 up in the top of the sixth when Braden McGinnis hit a three-run bomb with two on and no outs. Zack Dillman singled home a run later in the inning to put Sedalia on top 6-5. Duffin Makings added an RBI on a groundout to wrap the scoring in the inning with the Bombers in front 7-5.
DeSoria added a sac fly in the top of the seventh for insurance, extending Sedalia’s lead to 8-5. The Bombers added an unearned run in the eighth to make it a four-run cushion.
IN THE BOX
McGinnis homered and finished with three RBI and a run scored, while Spencer Nivens had three hits and scored twice. DeSoria doubled, had two RBI and scored two runs to highlight Sedalia’s night at the plate.
Wiemers homered and had a team-high three RBI while scoring a run. Ulmer led Joplin with four hits, including a triple, scored twice and drove in one. Angeron doubled, scored a run and drove in one.
UP NEXT
The Outlaws have the day off from MINK League play on Thursday, as the league’s all-star game will take place in Jefferson City. Pitchers Jack O’Brien, Justin Schrader, Christian DeJesus as well as infielder Logan Cline and outfielder Drake Angeron will represent Joplin in the Summer Classic. The Outlaws are back in action on Friday when Joplin travels to Nevada for a 7 p.m. matchup against the Griffons.
