The Joplin Outlaws earned a pair of wins over the weekend against the Texarkana Rhinos before the finale was rained out on Sunday.
Joplin earned a 10-0 win in the opener on Friday before earning a 7-4 win over Saturday at Joe Becker Stadium.
JOPLIN 10, TEXARKANA 0
The Joplin Outlaws delivered a commanding performance, blanking the Texarkana Rhinos in a six-inning rout.
The Outlaws jumped ahead in the second inning, scoring three runs. Murchael Turner crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Landin Midgett, followed by a two-run rally sparked by Andre Jackson II’s RBI single and a passed ball that allowed Jackson to score.
Joplin added three more in the third, with Finn Kaiyala driving in Mark Ross II and Maverick Williamson, smashing a two-run homer. Turner picked up an RBI single in the fifth and Joplin scored three runs in the sixth, highlighted by RBIs from Tyler Brodrick, Kaiyala, and Blake Wilson, who capitalized on a Texarkana error.
Joplin starter Cole Gayman (3-0) tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine. Luke Lorrence closed out the game, retiring the Rhinos in the seventh. The Outlaws’ defense was flawless, committing no errors, while Texarkana’s three miscues, including three by shortstop Jay Kelly, proved costly.
Texarkana’s pitching faltered, with starter Jaren Jackson surrendering six runs (five earned) over 4.2 innings, and Aiden Otano (0-1) allowing three runs in relief.
Joplin’s balanced attack saw Turner go 2-for-3 with two runs, two stolen bases, and an RBI, while Williamson contributed a homer, two RBIs, and two runs. Cy Darnell added two hits, two stolen bases, and a run, and Kaiyala drove in two.
JOPLIN 7, TEXARKANA 4
The Joplin Outlaws secured a decisive 7-4 win over the Texarkana Rhinos on Saturday.
The Outlaws struck early, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Shortstop Blake Wilson doubled and scored on a single by third baseman Will Doherty, who later crossed the plate on a groundout by catcher Evan Aslaksen.
oplin added two more runs in the second, with center fielder Ravaughn Morgan and second baseman Cy Darnell scoring on a sacrifice fly by Doherty and another by designated hitter Landin Midgett, making it 4-0.
Doherty continued his standout performance in the fourth, driving in Darnell with a single to push the lead to 5-0. The Rhinos’ bats were quiet early, held scoreless through five innings by Outlaws starter Conner Johnson, who struck out seven while allowing just two hits over five innings to earn the win.
Texarkana found life in the sixth, erupting for three runs. Designated hitter Marques Smith and third baseman Cade Parks scored on a single by first baseman Mason Sellers, followed by a sacrifice fly from center fielder Jackson Glymph, cutting the deficit to 5-3. However, Joplin answered in the bottom half, with Morgan blasting a solo home run and Doherty scoring on a play at second, extending the lead to 7-3.
The Rhinos added a run in the seventh when Smith scored on an error, but Joplin’s bullpen, led by Marcus Young and closer Will Newberry, shut the door. Newberry earned the save, allowing just one hit in the ninth.
Doherty led the Outlaws, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, while Wilson and Murchael Turner each had three hits. Morgan contributed a homer and two runs scored. For the Rhinos, Sellers drove in two runs, and Smith scored twice, but the team’s 12 strikeouts and eight runners left on base stifled their comeback hopes.
Rhinos starter Chance Reed took the loss, surrendering seven runs on 13 hits over 5.2 innings. Joplin’s 14 hits and disciplined approach at the plate overwhelmed Texarkana’s pitching staff.