Renegades fall to Mustangs 9-3

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Jefferson City Renegades had another strong outing from their starting pitching, but the bullpen couldn't hold on Saturday night in a 9-3 loss to the St. Joseph Mustangs in MINK League play.

Tristan Steffens allowed one run in five innings for the Renegades, scattering nine hits. He also walked one and struck out four while receiving the no-decision.

Jake Slunder tripled in the second inning and scored on Christian Rodriguez's double to give Jefferson City a 1-0 lead. St. Joseph tied the game in the bottom half.

Slunder hit a sacrifice fly in the sixth to score Austin Blazevic, but the Mustangs again tied the score at 2 in the bottom of the inning.

The Renegades retook the lead in the seventh, when Marquis Doherty singled to score Quincy Jones. Jefferson City scored all three runs with two outs Saturday.

This time, the Mustangs didn't just answer with one run.

St. Joseph scored three runs off Jeremy Hidalgo in the bottom of the seventh, then plated four runs in the eighth against Ty Jones and Tommy Wahl to take a 9-3 advantage. The Mustangs tallied 18 hits in rubber game of the three-game series.

Jones and Blazevic each went 3-for-5 to lead the Renegades. Jones had one double and two singles, while Blazevic finished with three singles. Slunder added one single and one triple.

Jefferson City (14-15) opens a three-game homestand today against the Nevada Griffons on South Callaway Night at Vivion Field.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.