The Chillicothe Mudcats suffer a tough loss on Thursday evening in Game One of the MINK League Championship Series at Shaffer Park in Chillicothe.
A low scoring ball game on Thursday evening goes the way of the Joplin Jailbirds as they take a 1-0 series lead heading into Game 2.
Joplin got the scoring started on Thursday evening with a run in the top of the third. Eric Williams Jr. lined a sacrifice fly out to left field to bring home Jordan Tucker and give the Jailbirds a 1-0 lead.
It took a while for Chillicothe to get its offense going Thursday against Joplin right-hander Kolt Ungeheuer, who opened the game with four perfect innings. However, the Mudcats finally broke the seal in the fifth against the outstanding Joplin pitcher. Rafael Calcaño smacked a base hit up the middle to bring around Max Heintz and Canon Creason giving the Mudcats a 2-1 lead after five innings.
Vibes were high in Chillicothe until the top of the sixth inning when Joplin retook the lead. Drake Lee poked a bloop hit into right-center field bringing around Jordan Tucker and Blake Jones to give the Jailbirds a 3-2 lead.
The Mudcats had chance after chance in the late innings, but ultimately squandered a few opportunities to tie it or take the lead.
A pop out to third base with a runner on second ultimately ended the ball game for Chillicothe, and the Jailbirds take Game One of the MINK League Championship Series by a final score of 3-2.
The Mudcats now face elimination. A win Friday in Game Two would force a winner-take-all Game Three on Saturday. A loss would end the Mudcats season and hand the championship to Joplin.
Game Two will be played in Joplin at Joe Becker Stadium on Friday, first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. Tune in to KCHI for all the action as the Mudcats look to keep their quest for a MINK League title alive Friday evening.