Joplin Outlaws Edge Abilene Flying Bison 8-7 in Thrilling Series Opener
Outlaws Take Game One of Mid America League Championship Best-of-Three
JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin Outlaws kicked off the Mid America League Championship series with a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Abilene Flying Bison in a 10-inning thriller on Thursday night.
The win gives Joplin a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, setting the stage for a pivotal Game Two.
The Outlaws struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning with an RBI groundout by Murchael Turner and a single from Luke Shannahan.
Abilene responded in the second with Seth Sloan’s RBI single, but the Flying Bison seized control in the third when Caden Ferraro blasted a three-run homer, pushing the score to 4-2.
Joplin tied it in the fourth with unearned runs, thanks to Garrett Springer’s error-aided RBI and Andre Jackson II’s single, knotting the game at 4-4.
The contest remained tight, with both teams trading runs in the late innings. Ferraro’s RBI single in the seventh gave Abilene a 5-4 edge, only for Turner to tie it at 5-5 with a single in the bottom half.
Cooper Schneider’s triple in the eighth put the Flying Bison ahead 6-5, but Turner’s clutch single in the ninth leveled the score at 6-6.
Abilene briefly regained the lead in the 10th with a wild pitch scoring Riley Hood, making it 7-6, before Joplin mounted a game-winning rally.
Andre Jackson II delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the 10th with a two-RBI single, scoring Luke Graham and Reece Bariola for an 8-7 walk-off victory.
Turner led Joplin with three RBIs, while Jackson II added three RBIs on three hits. Tyler Brodrick’s three stolen bases and two runs scored were key, despite no hits.
For Abilene, Ferraro drove in four runs, including his homer, and Schneider contributed an RBI triple. Both teams struggled defensively, committing three errors apiece.
On the mound, Joplin’s Webb Fern pitched 6.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned), while Marcus Young earned the win with 2.1 innings of relief, giving up one run.
Abilene’s Emir Encalada Jr. took the no-decision after 6.1 innings, and Kyrin LeBlanc (0-1) took the loss in relief.
Game 2 is set for tonight at 7:05 at Walt Diggers Field.