SHERMAN, Texas (August 9, 2024) – The Sherman Shadowcats took down the Joplin Outlaws 11-7 on Friday night to clinch a spot in the inaugural Mid America League playoffs.
Joplin started the scoring in the first inning against Sherman starter Tyland Lackey (Dallas Christian College) as Khale Good (Cal State Monterey Bay) doubled to left field to plate two runs and take a 2-0 lead.
Ryan Sessions (Arkansas-Monticello) responded in the bottom of the first with a two RBI double of his own for Sherman to even the score 2-2.
The Outlaws pulled back out in front in the visiting half of the second bringing in three runs. Brett Sarwinski (Pittsburg State) hit an RBI groundout, Andre Jackson (WT A&M) smacked an RBI double, and Ravaughn Morgan (Oklahoma Wesleyan) singled to right field, scoring Jackson to go up 5-2.
Cayden Earnhart (East Texas Baptist) cut the Joplin lead to 5-3 in the third with a single that allowed Easton Ford (Redlands CC) to come home.
The Shadowcats took their first lead of the game in the home half of the fourth with a three RBI double hit by Sessions that put the Cats in front, 6-5.
Sherman added a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly to right hit by Tyson Woodland (Centenary) to score Earnhart.
CJ Cepicky (Northern Illinois) ended the Outlaws scoring drought with an RBI double in the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-6.
In the bottom of the frame Sherman brought home two additional runs from an Anderson Acinger (LSU-Shreveport) RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Korson Hastings (UT Dallas) to extend the lead to 9-6.
Sherman then scored in the seventh on an RBI groundout put in to play by Sessions, allowing Woodland to touch home.
Joplin secured their final run in the top of the eighth from a groundout hit by Morgan to bring in Jackson to make it 10-7, Cats on top.
Sandry Hernandez (Rockies DSL) and Sherman matched the Outlaws in the bottom half with an RBI single that brought Hastings across the plate.
Carson Baugh (Texas Tech) looked to close the game in the ninth and did so facing just four batters and securing an 11-7 victory to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first year club.
The Cats advance to 30-35 and are still looking for the three seed which they can secure with a Piney Woods TimberHogs loss to the Rhinos and a Shadowcat win on the final day of the regular season.
Sherman looks for their first series sweep in franchise history as they take on Joplin on Sunday, August 10th at 5:05 p.m. with a five game win streak on the line.
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