Sherman, Texas (May 26, 2024) – The Sherman Shadowcats secured their first series victory in franchise history on Sunday afternoon with a 20-15 win over the Joplin Outlaws in a seven inning contest. The combined score of 35 is the highest that the Mid America League has seen out of the 10 games during opening weekend.
Joplin was the first to put a run in the scoring column as they scored two runs in the top of the first, as Carter Mize (Missouri Baptist ’22) smacked a two-run home run to right field to bring in CJ Cepicky (Northern Illinois). That put the Outlaws out ahead 2-0 moving to the home half.
Sherman was quick to answer in the bottom of the first as Anderson Acinger (LSU-Shreveport) laced a bomb over the left centerfield wall with the bases loaded for the first grand-slam in Shadowcat history. Jaylan Prince (Texas A&M Texarkana 21’), Easton Ford (Redlands CC), and Korson Hastings (Trinity 24’) all touched home plate, making the score 4-2 going into the second.
The Outlaws responded in the top of the second with two more runs, this time from a Cepicky double that brought home Brett Sarwinski (Pittsburg State), and Andres Garcia (Missouri Baptist), tying the game up 4-4.
Right fielder Jaylan Prince took the lead right back for the Shadowcats as he smoked a ball that went over the right field fence with two runners on for a three run homer. Ford and Hastings were the runners that came home and the score moved to a 7-4 Shadowcat lead.
Manny Garcia (Missouri Baptist ’22) hit an RBI single for the Outlaws in the top of the fourth that brought home Cepicky, making the new score 7-5 going to the bottom half.
The Shadowcats then went on a tear in the bottom of the fourth, scoring nine runs and bringing 15 batters up to the dish. Four straight walks to start the inning brought Tyson Woodland (Centenary) home, giving Hastings an RBI. Ford then put a fair ball straight in the ground making an awkward play for Outlaws catcher Landin Midgette (Coffeyville CC) as he tried to pick up the ball and touch home plate for the force out but couldn’t get a hold of it and was too late to the plate as Ryan Sessions (Redlands CC) was too quick. Sherman’s foot was held on the gas as Prince grounded out to second base and was able to bring Matt Herrera (Centenary) home. Hasting scored another run for the Shadowcats due to a passed ball that gave him enough time to come home making the score 11-5. The Shadowcats did not slow down as Cole Carnes (Fort Scott CC) singled to bring in Ford, and Sessions followed with a two RBI base hit of his own, scoring Alex Rangel (Dallas College Brookhaven), and Cole Carnes. To round out the scoring in the fourth Hastings drew a bases loaded walk bringing in Woodland, and then Sessions touched home after a wild pitch making the new score 16-5 Shadowcats.
An 11 run deficit did not turn the Outlaws away as they were able to tag along one run in the top of the fifth from a wild pitch that brought Andres Garcia home, bringing it to 16-6.
The final four runs for the Shadowcats came in the bottom of the fifth. Sessions walked in Acinger, Herrera smacked a two RBI single to left center that saw Cole Carnes and Woodland come home, and Ford secured a base-hit to right field scoring Sessions to make it 20-6 after five.
A comeback run started in the top of the sixth for the Outlaws as Khale Good (Cal State Monterey Bay) shredded a three-run home run to score Kenley Hood (Highland CC), and Manny Garcia. Eric Bacon then reached on an error by Shadowcat shortstop Alex Rangel bringing in Sarwinski making the score to 20-10.
Outlaws reliever Lucas Vanlanduit (Pittsburg State) delivered a quick bottom of the sixth, facing just four batters to bring up his bats in the top of the seventh.
Joplin looked to make one last push as Good slapped a two RBI base knock that scored Hood, and Manny Garcia, Sarwinski followed with a two RBI single of his own to score Good, and Jackson, but the Outlaws would come up short scoring their 15th and final run on a wild pitch that brought Sarwinski to the plate making the final score 20-15 in seven innings.
Tyler Carnes (Fort Scott CC) was the winning pitcher as he went two innings, striking out four batters, and giving up two runs with his twin brother Cole behind the plate. Sandro Adames (Southeast Arkansas) was given the loss as he went two and a third innings, giving up seven runs and five hits.
The Shadowcats improve to 2-1 while the Outlaws drop to 1-2 on the season. Next up the Shadowcats take on the Piney Woods Timber Hogs(0-4) at home on Tuesday, May 28. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Veterans Field.
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