The Jefferson City Renegades were just a little too late to the plate in Wednesday night's season opener against the Sedalia Bombers.
Spencer Juergens shut down the Renegades for the first five innings and the six-run margin was too much to overcome as Jefferson City fell 9-6 in MINK League play at Vivion Field.
"He's a legit guy," Renegades coach Mike DeMilia said of Juergens, who played two seasons at Jefferson College before heading to Houston to pitch for the Courgars. "I thought we put some good swings on him even though we weren't getting results."
The Renegades got going in the sixth as Tyler Bracht drew a one-out walk and later scored when Justin McIntyre bounced a grounder down the left-field line for a double. McIntyre went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks.
After a pitching change, Logan Hudson walked to load the bases and Ridge Rogers raced home after a popout to the first baseman in foul territory.
Quincy Jones finished off the three-run inning with a single to center field, cutting the deficit to 6-3.
Juergens, who earned the win, struck out four and walked one while allowing the three runs and three hits.
Adam Grunden took the loss for Jefferson City, allowing three runs, two earned, on four hits with three strikeouts.
Then Alex Loosbrock, Caleb Lasher, Tristan Steffens, Ethan Rackers and Chris Sheputis each went an inning of relief.
"I thought Adam threw really well to start," DeMilia said. "Pitching struggled at times a little bit, but there's some good things tonight for sure."
DeMilia said he plans to use a number of pitchers for at least to start the season.
"We just don't want to run anybody out there for a long period of time," he said. "A lot of the guys we have are redshirts or maybe pitching relief."
The Renegades also had to use two of their catchers after Jady Reese was hit in the eye with a ball during warmups. Kade Franks, who's a former third baseman for the Jefferson City Jays, started the game.
"He was ready to play," DeMilia said. "His head was spinning for a little bit, but he settled in."
Mike Million caught the ninth after Jake Slunder pinch hit for Franks.
Sedalia got the lead to 9-3 heading to the ninth, when Jefferson City had its second three-run inning.
Two runs scored when Hudson reached on an error and Jones drove in his second run of the game with an infield single. But a strikeout stranded the bases loaded to end it.
Ryan Flores and Santiago Garcia paced the Bombers, each collecting two hits and four RBI. Flores had a solo homer to right field in the fourth.
Justin Eads also homered for Sedalia, blasting a two-run shot off the shed beyond the left-center field fence.
Jefferson City (0-1) and Sedalia (1-0) will play at 7 p.m. today in Sedalia.