Strong pitching for the Outlaws suffocates Flying Bison in first road game of the season
By: Jackson Wright
After the opening round series got cut a game short due to a Sunday rainout, the Joplin Outlaws hit the road to Abilene, Texas, to face the Flying Bison of Abilene.
Both teams were quiet through the first two innings. The Outlaws produced two hits but stranded both runners, while the Flying Bison stranded three runners on three hits.
After two quick outs, the Outlaws again grabbed consecutive hits. This time, after back-to-back singles by Landon Midgett and Tyler Brodrick, Finn Kaiyala laces a double down the left field line to bring in the game’s first runs. However, the Flying Bison got one run back on a Parker Wilson wild pitch.
The fourth inning was the first crooked number of the game, plating four runs via three Bison errors. Abilene couldn’t catch up, as they had just two hits, leaving six on base between innings four through six.
The Flying Bison were able to scratch across their final run of the game when Davis Rivers doubled in Abilene’s second and final run of the game.
Fast forward to the top of the eighth, and the Outlaws got hot again. After a single and two walks, Landon Midgett got walked to score the first run of the inning. To avoid leaving more runners on base and in scoring position, Finn Kaiyala placed a hard hit double down the left field line to wipe the bases clean and put the Outlaws up 10-2.
The nearly three-hour game ended with a final score of 12-2.
Parker Wilson got the start, with 1 strikeout, 4 hits, and 1 run through 4 innings. Anthony Garcia made his season debut in relief, getting the win after tossing 4 and ⅔ innings, striking out 4, allowing 5 hits and 1 walk. Will Newberry got the final out of the game for the Outlaws.
Manager Dean Green didn’t change much from his opening series lineup, but he did add two new faces; Tyler Brodrick and Blake Wilson. However, it was fan-favorite Finn Kaiyala who swung the hot bat for the Outlaws. Finn went 2-4 with two doubles and a season high 5 RBIs.
The Outlaws move to 3-1 on the season, while the Flying Bison pick up their first loss of the season, and move to 3-1.
The Outlaws will stay in Abilene for two more games against the Flying Bison, before coming back home to Joe Becker Stadium on May 30th to host the Piney Woods TimberHogs.
Get your tickets at https://joplinoutlaws.com
