The Jefferson City Jays celebrated their seven seniors Friday for Senior Night, but fell 13-4 to the Rolla Bulldogs at Vivion Field.
“It’s seven guys that have played baseball their whole lives and we appreciate everything they have done for the program and their commitment to the program,” Jefferson City coach Kyle Lasley said. “Hopefully those are the seven that can keep us in it the next couple weeks as we get into districts.”
It was an uncharacteristic night for the Jays on defense as they made six errors that led to six unearned runs for the Bulldogs.
“It’s been kind of the same talk of just you can’t follow up with mistake, by mistake, by mistake,” Lasley said. “There was very uncharacteristic of us throwing the ball around like we did. It’s one of those deals.”
All seven of the Jefferson City seniors were in the starting lineup Friday with Cade Beckley getting the start on the mound.
Beckley got into some trouble in the first inning after a two-out walk and single put runners on the corners, but Beckley was able to induce a fly ball into center field to get out of the jam.
The Jays had a pair of runners on in the bottom half, but they left them stranded too after a groundball to third turned into an inning-ending double play.
Jefferson City broke through in the second inning.
Isaac Enloe started the rally with a one-out single into center field and the bases ended up loaded with one out after Will Berendzen was hit by a pitch and Zac Arnold singled. A groundball to first base forced a fielder’s choice after Enloe was thrown out at the plate, but Earleywine came through with a two-RBI single into center field to take a 2-0 lead.
The Jays’ lead did not last long as Rolla struck for four runs in the top of the third on four hits and two walks to grab a 4-2 lead.
Jefferson City tied the game back up in the bottom half after Eli Miller came around to score on an Enloe RBI single, who later scored when Hayden Wells was hit in the head with a pitch with two outs.
Rolla took the lead back in the fifth inning after a leadoff single came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Brett Montgomery.
The Bulldogs took control of the game in the sixth inning after a pair of crucial defensive mistakes allowed Rolla to plate five runs and take a 10-4 lead.
Rolla was able to extend its lead to 13-4 in the top of the seventh inning on five hits and an error.
The Jays were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh to close out their 10th straight loss.
Isaac Long and Carter Kriete led the Rolla (9-15) offense with three hits a piece while Bret Yarger, JJ Yoakum and Beno Ballard all added two hits as part of the 15 hits for the Bulldogs.
Earleywine and Enloe each had a pair of hits to lead Jefferson City (6-20).
Beckley allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out five in his 2⅔ innings. Dylan Wallace was the losing pitcher on the mound as he allowed six runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks to go along with his two strikeouts. Jordan Welch pitched the final inning and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with a strikeout.
Jefferson City will look to end its long slide today when it welcomes Class 6 No. 4 Liberty (23-9) for a doubleheader at Vivion Field starting at 11 a.m.
“It’s just getting out there and just playing and seeing what happens,” Lasley said. “You know they are going to execute, they are going to hit, they are going to pitch it. We are just going to have to try to manage the game the best we can to keep it close and give ourselves a chance.”