CHILLICOTHE – Chillicothe got late insurance runs and withstood a ninth inning Jefferson City charge to hang on for a 4-3 win at Shaffer Park Saturday.
Will Loesch gave the Mudcats their second straight quality start in as many nights. Loesch tossed five innings of one-run baseball, with the only Renegade run coming on a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning.
Tyler Bickers returned Saturday from injury after missing the previous four games. He went 3-for-4 at the plate with singles in his last three plate appearances.
Ryan Mittelman hit the go-ahead RBI single in the fourth inning to put the Mudcats up 2-1.
Elijah Maris gave Chillicothe a much-needed insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single to score Mittelman, and the Mudcats led 4-1 going to the ninth.
Koby Linder earned his first save of the season, despite some shaky Mudcat defense in the ninth inning. The frame started with back-to-back errors on ground balls, and both of those runners would later score. It took five additional batters to secure the final out.
Jefferson City left 13 men on base, including the tying run at third to end the game.
The Mudcats improve to 4-8 on the season with the win.
The Mudcats travel to Clarinda Sunday for a twin bill with the first-place A’s. First pitch for game one is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. C.T.
