The Joplin Outlaws kicked off a week of six consecutive home games with a 9-2 knockout victory over the Nevada Griffons on Monday night at Joe Becker Stadium.
A five-run fourth inning pushed the Outlaws ahead of Nevada before the hosts tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the fifth. A homer by Kolton Reynolds in the sixth inning was the final nail in Nevada’s coffin.
ON THE MOUND
Caden Bressler earned the win for Joplin after giving up two runs in seven innings on a walk, six hits and four strikeouts.
Jaxon Burns took the no-decision after pitching four innings in which he gave up five runs against three hits, four walks and five strikeouts. Dryden Cosens took the loss for Nevada after giving up four runs in two innings on three hits, four walks and five strikeouts.
GAME ACTION
The Griffons took the lead in the top of the third when London Penland singled to shortstop before scoring on a single to center field by Ryan Davis.
Ethan Krueger sent one home in the bottom of the fourth with a double to left field, tying the game.
Cole Hill pushed Joplin past the Griffons when he doubled to left field, sending Krueger and Brett Sarwinski home. The Outlaws secured their lead when Reynolds stepped to the plate with bases loaded. Reynolds reached first on an error by the shortstop, sending Hill and Garrett Chun home and bringing the score to 5-1.
Joplin tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning. Jason Lazo walked to first before stealing second and advancing to third on an error by the catcher. Korrey Siracusa singled to shortstop and brought Lazo home. Siracusa stole second before being sent home when Krueger hit a double to center field. Siracusa went out at third before two Joplin batters struck out, retiring the team from the inning.
In the last scoring play of the game for Joplin, Reynolds homered with one on the bases for two RBI in the sixth inning.
In the top of the seventh, Tyson Dent was first at the plate for Nevada. Dent was hit by a pitch and walked to first before stealing second. He advanced to third when Clay Palen grounded out to second. Jason Strobel singled to left field, sending Dent home for the final run of the night.
AT THE PLATE
Reynolds earned four RBI and scored one run on a hit. Hill earned two RBI on two hits and a walk while tacking on a run. Krueger scored once and earned two RBI on two hits and a walk. Siracusa scored twice and earned an RBI on one hit. Lazo, Sarwinski, Chun, and Landon Meyer each scored a run.
Strobel earned one RBI on two hits for Nevada. Davis earned an RBI on a hit and a strikeout.
ON DECK
MINK League action continues this week as Joplin plays back-to-back home games. Joplin takes on the Jefferson City Renegades at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Joe Becker Stadium. Games with Clarinda, Sedalia and Jefferson City follow later this week.
The Renegades are second in the South Division with a conference winning percentage of .459, while Joplin leads with a PCT of .467. The Renegades have played more games, with 38 under their belt compared to Joplin’s 31.
“If you look at our schedule in total, we’re clearly a lot better at home than we are anywhere else,” Outlaws manager Chris Dawson said. “These next two weeks are massive for us, especially to put things together and put some space between us and the other teams in the South.”
