June 10, 2021
JOPLIN, MO—Facing the hottest offense in the league, the Joplin Outlaws used a trio of big innings and held the high-flying Sedalia offense to just four hits as they defeat the Sedalia Bombers 13-1 in a Thursday-night contest that was ended by mercy rule in the seventh inning.
The Outlaws (4-2) set season highs for hits and runs and only struck out one time. Cade Lott went 4-for-4 with four runs scored and Brett Wiemers added three knocks of his own to pace an attack that saw eight of the nine hitters in the order recorded both a hit and a run scored.
Sedalia (2-3) actually took the early lead against Joplin starter Cale McAllister. In the first inning, McAllister retired the first two batters, but following two singles and a walk, Clayton Meyer drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Bombers in front.
The score held until the bottom of the second when Joplin put runners on the corners with one out. On an 0-2 pitch, Jeb Jenkins lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Cade Lott for the first Joplin tally.
One inning later, the tide would turn. After a double and a single put runners on the corners with one out, Lott's second hit of the night gave the Outlaws the lead. That looked like it would be all for the inning, but with two outs and the bases loaded, Jenkins' fly ball to left was dropped, scoring two more runs to put the Outlaws up 4-1.
In the fourth, Jeremiah Kennedy entered for McAllister, who had navigated six runners and three wild pitches in his three innings of work to just allow the one run. Kennedy, though, shut down the Sedalia lineup by retiring all nine men he faced over the middle innings.
In the meantime, Joplin ran away with a five-run fifth that chased Sedalia starter Tucker Nunnenkamp. Jenkins ripped a two-run double to left, while Ethan Lopez followed with a two-run single of his own. Wiemers capped off the rally with an RBI single.
The onslaught continued with a four-run sixth that was highlighted by Cam Pfafman's RBI bloop hit and a two-run single by Lawson Faria that put the Outlaws over the ten-run margin required for a mercy rule.
In the seventh, Austin Gottula issued a leadoff walk, then struck out the final three batters to nail down the shortened contest and put an end to Joplin's two-game slide.
McAllister went 3.0 innings, allowing a run on four hits and two walks, while striking out three and navigating three wild pitches. Kennedy (1-0), tossed 3.0 perfect innings, striking out three and earning the win. Gottula struck out three and walked one in a scoreless frame to end the ballgame.
The Outlaws will turn around and face the Sedalia Bombers at Liberty Park in Sedalia on Friday night. First pitch is at 7:00 p.m. and will be available on UclickTV on pay-per-view, as well as all Joplin Outlaws and MINK League season passes.
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