Big middle innings propel Outlaws past TimberHogs

The Joplin Outlaws scored six runs in the middle innings on the way to a 7-4 win on the road against the Piney Woods TimberHogs.

With the game tied at 1s, Joplin scored twice in the fifth and four more times in the sixth to take a 7-3 advantage. 

Keaton Anderson earned the win after allowing four runs on six hits and four strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.

Jack Haag took the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, on five hits in six innings.

Mark Ross II was the top bat at the plate for Joplin, hitting a solo homer to center in the second inning before connecting for a three-run bomb in the sixth inning to boost the lead to 7-1. Ross finished with two hits, four RBI and three runs scored in the win.

The Outlaws are atop the Mid-America League standings with a 26-9 record, having won eight of their last 10.

Joplin is on the road for a twinbill at Piney Woods scheduled for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m tonight.