By Cade Haak
JOPLIN, Missouri (July 17, 2024) – The Texarkana Rhinos could never get any offensive sparks flying Wednesday night, as they only scored six runs in two games to lose both.
Game one ended in favor of the Outlaws with a final score of 6-3. Joplin took the lead when they scored two runs in the bottom of the second, then added four more to their total in the bottom of the fifth. In the sixth inning, the Rhinos offense finally did some damage, but it was too little, too late. The first run of the game was driven in by Jackson Glymph on a single up the middle that scored Ian Guanzon, and the next two came following an error by the pitcher that allowed Sloan Laird to reach first safely and scored Neil Jansen and Jackson Glymph.
The loss in game one went to Dalton Graham despite putting forth a good performance where he allowed six runs, only four of which were earned.
Game two started off very differently, but was ultimately more of the same. The Rhinos offense looked fresh and ready to go for the second game. Texarkana scored two runs in the top of the first to take their first lead of the night. First, Neil Jansen hit a single between the shortstop and third baseman to score Alex DeLeon. Then Jansen was promptly driven in himself after a single from Jackson Glymph moved him to third and a single from Sloane Laird allowed him to score.
Joplin regained control of the game in innings two and three as they scored four unanswered runs to give themselves the lead. After the bottom of the third, neither team scored until the Rhinos got their final run in the sixth inning when Antonio Sabala scored on a wild pitch.
Mason Sellers took the loss in the second game of the night after allowing four runs, two of which were earned in 4.2 innings pitched.
