By: Jackson Wright
The Joplin Outlaws and Abilene Flying Bison opened the championship series Thursday night with a back-and-forth extra-inning battle, capped by designated hitter Andre Jackson’s two-RBI walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th for a Game 1 win.
Game 2 on Friday picked up right where the drama left off, but this time, the Outlaws’ late rally fell one run too short.
Joplin jumped out to a quick lead in the top of the first when Tyler Brodrick tripled and scored on a shot up the middle by Ravaughn Morgan. Luke Shannahan added a walk, but two runners were stranded to end the inning. Abilene responded in the bottom half, tying the game with a single before a sacrifice fly made it 2-1 Flying Bison.
The second inning proved costly for the Outlaws. After a single, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Caden Ferraro launched his second home run of the series, this time a grand slam to left field, stretching the lead to 7-1.
Joplin started chipping away in the third. Brodrick singled, Murchael Turner walked, and both advanced on a wild pitch. Morgan then drove in his second run of the night with a groundout. After Shannahan was intentionally walked, Reece Bariola hit a chopper over the first baseman’s head to make the score 7-3, but had already left four runners on base through just three innings.
Landon Fletcher quieted Abilene in the bottom of the third, aided by a highlight-reel diving grab from Brodrick in left field. The Outlaws continued to threaten, but stranded two more in the fifth, bringing their total to seven left on base.
The sixth inning finally brought the big swing that Joplin needed. Garrett Springer’s leadoff double, a single from Jackson Mervosh, and a walk to Jackson loaded the bases. Brodrick drew a walk to force in a run, and Turner roped a bases-clearing double to tie the game at 7-7.
Reliever Walker Sweet held Abilene scoreless in the sixth, but the Flying Bison reclaimed the lead in the seventh with a leadoff single and an RBI double.
However, Joplin answered again in the eighth. Jackson and Brodrick both reached, and sacrifice flies from Turner and Morgan tied the game at 8. But Abilene wouldn’t be denied. Ferraro walked, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored the go-ahead run on another wild throw.
The Outlaws put the tying run on base in the ninth on a Mervosh single, but he would become the eleventh runner left on base as Abilene closed the door and sealed the victory 9-8.
Tyler Brodrick was 3-4 with 1 RBI, Ravaughn Morgan and Murchael Turner were both 1-4 with 3 RBIs. Jackson Mervosh was also 3-5.
Game 3 is set for Saturday, August 9, at 7 pm with the series becoming a must-win for both teams.