By: Jackson Wright
The Joplin Outlaws and Abilene Flying Bison opened the championship series the same way they ended last season… locked in a tight, back-and-forth battle. In a game that featured four ties, five lead changes, and a strong dose of late-game drama, the Outlaws emerged with an 8-7 extra-inning walk-off victory at Walt Drigger Stadium.
The match had all the makings of a heavyweight contest. Last season, Joplin spoiled Abilene’s run as the top seed after upsetting them in the title game. This year, the Flying Bison came in looking for revenge.
Joplin struck first in the bottom of the first when Tyler Brodrick walked, stole second, and scored on Murchael Turner’s RBI groundout. Ravaughn Morgan and Luke Shannahan then combined for back-to-back hits to make it 2-0 after the first inning. Abilene got one back in the second before Caden Ferraro launched a three-run homer in the third to give the visitors a 4-2 lead.
The Outlaws fought back in the fourth. Reece Bariola scored on a pair of wild pitches, and Andre Jackson’s bases-loaded single tied the game, 4-4.
After the team traded zeroes in the fifth and sixth innings, Abilene pulled ahead again in the seventh on a walk and a double. However, the Outlaws continued to fight back when league MVP, Murchael Turner, ripped his second soft hit RBI of the night to get things knotted back up at 5 a piece.
The Flying Bison once again jumped in front in the eighth with an RBI triple, but the Outlaws rallied in their final hope during the bottom of the ninth. Brodrick worked a leadoff walk and scored on Turner’s third and final RBI of the night, sending the game to extras with a 6-6 score.
In the top of the tenth, Abilene scratched across a run on a passed ball, setting up one more final Outlaws rally. A leadoff walk to Bariola followed by a Garrett Springer single put the tying run in scoring position, and the winning run on base. Both runners moved up on a spiked ball in the dirt before Jackson Mervosh worked a walk, to load the bases for Andre Jackson.
Jackson, who knew he “only needed a sac fly”, dumped a broken bat single just over the third baseman’s head to plate two runs and give Joplin the series advantage, 1-0.
Jackson finished the night going 3-6 at the plate with three RBIs, including the game-winners. Turner went 2-5 while also driving in three runs. Marcus Young got the win on the mound, going 2 ⅓ innings, giving up one hit and one run while striking out two.
“The job isn’t done,” said Jackson. “We are not satisfied at all. We got one more game to solidify that and close the door.”
The Outlaws look to take home the trophy Friday, August 8th, in Game 2, with a first pitch scheduled for 7 pm at Walt Drigger Stadium in Abilene, Texas. If necessary, Game 3 will be played Saturday, August 9, also at 7 pm.