The Jefferson City Jays dropped their first two games of the Midwest Classic on Wednesday, losing 5-1 at the Francis Howell Vikings and 7-5 at the Rockwood Summit Falcons.
The Jays took an early lead in Game 1 against the Vikings, which are the top-ranked team in Class 6 in the initial Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association rankings, as Adam Scheperle drew a bases-loaded, two-out walk to bring in Mason Wall.
But Francis Howell answered back with three runs in the fourth, using a one-out single to tie the game before a sacrifice fly followed by an RBI single made it a 3-1 game.
The Vikings plated their final two runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly.
Jordan Martin took the loss on the mound for Jefferson City after allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three in his four innings. Ethan Lipp tossed two scoreless innings of relief and Paxton Holliday allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in the seventh.
The Jays had just four hits in the game but drew seven walks, led by Scheperle and Brody Johns with two each.
Jefferson City’s comeback bid fell short in Game 2 against the Class 5 No. 5 Falcons.
The Jays fell behind 7-0 headed into the fifth after Rockwood Summit scored three in the first and two more in each of the third and fourth innings.
Jefferson City got on the scoreboard in the fifth with Ryan Tadsen scoring on a wild pitch, but the score remained 7-1 headed into the seventh.
The Jays used four straight walks to open the seventh and score a run, then scored two more after the next two at-bats resulted in errors. Eli Miller made it a two-run game with an RBI fielder’s choice, but the Jays stranded the bases loaded after a strikeout ended the game.
Wall took the loss on the mound after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three in 2 2/3 innings. Ian Schwartz got the final out of the third and was charged for one run, and Holliday tossed the final three innings while allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk. Holliday struck out two batters.
Jefferson City (2-4) will be back in action at 2 p.m. today at Holt to complete pool play in the Midwest Classic.