One big inning proved to be the difference Wednesday night at Vivion Field, as the Sedalia Bombers used a six-run third inning en route to their 10-6 victory against the Jefferson City Renegades in MINK League action.
The Renegades threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the second but stranded the bases loaded, and the Bombers made them pay for it.
Dane Wimberly led off with a single in the top of the third but Sedalia would get just one more hit -- a two-run double by Grant Lamberth -- in its six-run inning, as five walks and an error paved the way for the rally.
The Bombers were not done either.
Nick Beech led off the top of the fourth with a single, Zach Dillman was hit by a pitch as the next batter and Jack Prewett drove both in two batters later with a two-run triple down the right-field line. Will Muench drove in a run with an RBI groundout later in the frame and Lamberth scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 10-0.
Jefferson City started its comeback bid in the bottom half with an RBI groundout by Rock Bridge graduate Dane Gray that plated Luke Matschiner but would end up stranding the bases loaded for the second time in the first four innings.
The score remained 10-1 until the Renegades broke through for two more runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Aiden Baumann drove in Chase Haner -- who reached on a leadoff single -- with an RBI triple to deep right-center field for the first run before Gray plated Baumann as the next batter with a single to shallow center field.
The final three runs of the contest came in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Sedalia walked four of the first five batters of the frame to plate Andrew Imgarten as the first run, Camdenton graduate Kam Durnin drove in two runs with a single to left-center and the Renegades were able to get the potential-tying run to plate with two outs after Southern Boone graduate Nathan Smith reached on an error to load the bases.
That brought Gray back to the plate with the game on the line, but Dillman was able to get him to chase a fastball above the zone to end the contest and start the Renegades’ MINK League season with a defeat.
Jefferson City used nine pitchers in Wednesday’s game. Brendan Wilson took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on two hits and four walks with one strikeout.
Russellville graduate and Missouri signee Charlie Miller tossed 1⅓ innings, retiring all four batters he faced with a strikeout. Helias graduate Jaden Kolb pitched a scoreless sixth inning, erasing a leadoff single with a strike-him-out, throw-him-out double play to the next batter.
Blair Oaks graduate Chase Schnieders tossed a scoreless eighth inning for the Bombers, striking out two while working around a one-out error.
Baumann reached base all three times to lead the Renegades (0-1) offense, finishing 1-for-1 with an RBI triple while getting on twice via hit by pitch, Justin Rivera reached base both times he went to the plate, Gray finished 1-for-4 with two RBI and Durnin went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Prewett led the way for Sedalia (1-2), finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI.
Jefferson City will start an eight-game road trip with a doubleheader Friday at the Chillicothe Mudcats.
First pitch for Game 1 is set for 5:05 p.m.