A three-run seventh inning propelled the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Tigers to a 7-5 Central Missouri Activities Conference victory Friday against the Jefferson City Jays at Jefferson City High School.
The Jays took the lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by Eli Miller, added a run in the third on an error and extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth after Jackson Koch singled home Brody Johns.
But the Tigers stormed back to take the lead in the fifth with four runs, three coming with two outs. Smith-Cotton took the lead with a two-RBI double by Dax Wiskur.
Jefferson City tied the game in the bottom half after a Ryan Meyer fielder’s choice scored Mason Wall, then retook the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly hit by Ryan Tadsen.
The Tigers used two consecutive one-out singles to set up a run-scoring error, then plated two more on a fielder’s choice that turned into a throwing error.
Wall led the way at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort with a walk.Cooper Woolery had two hits and an RBI to pace Smith-Cotton (3-2, 1-1 CMAC).
Ian Schwartz started on the mound for the Jays and allowed one run on two hits and three walks while striking out five in 4⅓ innings. Luke Baridl took the loss after allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk to go with two strikeouts in 1⅔ innings.
Jefferson City (2-2, 1-1 CMAC), which is receiving votes in the Class 5 state rankings, will be back in action at 2 p.m. Monday when it opens in the Midwest Classic at Francis Howell against Class 6 No. 1 Francis Howell. The Jays will also take on Class 5 No. 5 Rockwood Summit at 4:30 p.m. Monday.