With the game on the line, Quincy Jones is who the Jefferson City Renegades want at the plate. He proved why Saturday night.
With the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth, Jones bounced a hard-hit single up the middle to score Christian Rodriguez and Jordan Smith for a 4-3 walk-off win against the Sedalia Bombers at Vivion Field.
"I've had a couple (walk-off hits) throughout my years of playing, but that one was definitely electrifying," Jones said. "A good moment there for sure."
Sedalia closer Adam Link, who hadn't allowed a hit in 9 innings before Saturday, got behind in the count against Jones and threw a fastball with a 2-1 count.
"Kind of knee high so not in my wheelhouse, but I just attack anything close," Jones said.
Link threw two scoreless innings in last Saturday's 10-6 win against the Renegades at Vivion Field and also closed out a 12-7 victory June 10 in Sedalia.
"I think I remember facing him maybe one or two times in the past and definitely kind of shut us down," Jones said. "It was good to hop on him this time for sure."
Rodriguez got the rally going with a one-out single to left field. Rodriguez had two hits, including an RBI double in the fourth out of the No. 9 spot.
"You want somebody at the bottom to get on base for your perceived better hitters," DeMilia said. "He's done it all. He's been everywhere in our lineup. He's pretty versatile."
Jefferson City pitcher Matthew Wade, who got the start on his birthday, had his best outing of the summer.
The Bombers got a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings, but Wade retired the side in order in the third and didn't give up a hit in the fourth.
"Tonight he really zoned in," Renegades coach Mike DeMilia said. "He had one sort of bad inning, but only gave up one run. Unfortunately this year a lot of times we have a bad inning we give up five."
But Sedalia only managed to score a single run against Wade on a Ryan Flores sacrifice fly in the fifth. Wade went six innings, allowing four hits while walking three and striking out eight. Wade surrendered six runs in four innings in last Saturday's loss to the Bombers.
"I just think he was able to locate his pitches better," DeMilia said. "He got behind a lot of hitters last week. He controlled his changeup. He was able to get a lot of swings and misses with it."
Sedalia got two runs in the seventh to lead 3-1, but Chris Sheputis pitched 1 inning of scoreless relief and Christian Watson struck out two in a perfect ninth.
Tyler Clark went seven innings for Sedalia, allowing one run on seven hits with two strikeouts.
The Renegades out-hit the Bombers 12-6, but left eight runners on base and had several other hard-hit balls get caught by Sedalia fielders.
"I felt like we could have won 8-3 but they just made plays," DeMilia said. "I still think they are the best team in the league and that's why. They do everything. They hit, they've got solid pitching and they play great defense."
Jones went 3-for-5 while Logan Hudson, Smith and Jake Slunder each joined Rodriguez in the two-hit club.
"I think for me attacking early in the count," Jones said. "Not waiting until I get myself behind in the count. Being aggressive at the plate and trusting my swing and letting my hands fly. It worked out for me tonight."
The Renegades improved to 8-9 in the MINK League and 11-9 overall with the win. They'll host Chillicothe at 2 p.m. today.