The Joplin Outlaws extended their win streak to nine games with 2-1 and 9-4 wins over the Sherman Shadowcats this weekend at Joe Becker Stadium.
Saturday game
On Saturday, the Outlaws managed a 2-1 win with starter Walker Sweet (5-0) giving up one run on two hits while striking out eight and walking one in 8 1/3 innings.
Marcus Young earned his sixth save after allowing no base runners in two-thirds of an inning. Sherman’s Tyler Carnes (1-2) shouldered the loss after giving up two runs on five hits. He struck out six and walked five in 5 1/3 innings.
Joplin posted both of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Jackson Mervosh drove in Tyler Brodrick with a single and Anthony Mazza waltzed home on a Sherman Balk.
The Shadowcats lone run came in the top of the sixth inning off a JT Cienega sacrifice grounder that plated Erick Ballenilla. Matthew Herrerra logged Sherman’s other hit and finished 1-for-3.
Brodrick led Joplin at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run. Garrett Springer finished 2-for-4.
Sunday game
On Sunday, Outlaw bats came alive for 12 hits — including four from Ravaughn Morgan — en route to a 9-4 win over the Shadowcats.
Joplin got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Jackson scored on a Murchael Turner sacrifice fly to right field and Luke Shannahan drove in Morgan with a double to make it 2-0.
Sherman responded with two runs of its own in the top of the second frame, when Ballenill doubled and drove in Carnes and Jonnie Gifford to tie the game at 2-2.
The Outlaws regained the lead at 5-2 with three runs in the bottom of the third. Shannahan plated Morgan with a single, Turner scored on a Mervosh sacrifice fly to right field and Shannahan scored on a Shadowcats error.
Joplin tacked on another run when Mazza sprinted home on a Blake Wilson steal of second base in the bottom of the fifth.
Wilson drove in Jace Midgett in the bottom of the seventh inning to put Joplin up 7-2.
Sherman’s Jacob Ambriz made it a 7-3 game in the top of the eighth, when he scored off a Carson Garrett sacrifice fly.
The Outlaws responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame, when Shannahan drove in Morgan with a single and Brodrick scored on a Jace Midgett single.
Sherman’s final run cane in the top of the ninth, when Cienega plated Ballenilla, but the rally fell short as Joplin logged the 9-4 win.
Morgan finished 4-for-5 with three runs to lead the Outlaws. Shannahan was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and a run and Jace Midgett finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Joplin starter Landon Fletcher (1-0) earned the win after giving up two runs on five hits, while walking three and striking out four in five innings.
Ballenilla went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run for Sherman. Tanner Crispin (0-1) was saddled with the loss, after giving up five runs on five hits. He struck out one and walked one in two and 1/3 innings.