Joplin’s patience at the plate paid off on Thursday as the Eagles used a seven-run third inning to fuel a 12-2 win in five innings over Class 3 No. 1 Springfield Catholic on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
The Fighting Irish (4-4) pushed across a run in the top of the first to take the initial lead before the Eagles vaulted out in front with seven runs touching home in the bottom of the third inning thanks to six walks drawn in the frame. Joplin ended the game early via run-rule with a five-run fifth inning.
“I thought we were good on the mound,” Joplin coach Kyle Wolf said. “Justin (McReynolds) really filled it up and did a good job of changing speeds. They hit some balls hard, but I thought we did a good job of tracking it. … Our approach at the plate—sometimes it’s not what you do, it’s what you don’t do. We were on time with our takes and ready to hit, but we didn’t chase a lot and I think they got a little frustrated and we were able to turn it into a big inning.”
With the Eagles’ third straight win, Joplin climbs back to .500 with a 5-5 record.
ON THE MOUND
McReynolds earned the complete-game win after surrendering two runs, one earned, on five hits and four strikeouts in five innings of work.
Coleman Morrison, a Missouri recruit, took the loss after allowing six runs on three hits, five walks and five strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. Cole Schoen allowed three runs on one hit, five walks and a punchout in two relief innings. Weston Cline gave up three runs on three hits and two walks in 1/3 of an inning.
GAME ACTION
Springfield Catholic got on the scoreboard in the first inning after Jack Schoen doubled with one out before coming around to score on a wild pitch later in the frame for a 1-0 lead.
Joplin had a chance to answer back in the last half of the inning after Bodee Carlson led off with a triple right-center field. Unfortunately for the Eagles, who eventually loaded the bases, that was the only contact made in the opening frame as the final out was made without Carlson scoring.
Joplin used a single from Brady Mails, a hit-by-pitch by Kyler Stokes and a single from Ethan Guilford to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the third. The Eagles proceeded to draw six straight walks with the bases loaded to take a 6-1 lead. Mails picked up another RBI later in the frame with a groundout to wrap the inning with Joplin leading 7-1.
“We took what was available,” Wolf said of his team’s approach at the plate. “We talk all the time about not doing too much. Guys were patient and that is a big situation that will force some guys to expand the zone, but we didn’t. We took our 90 feet when they gave it to us. It was a good job by our guys.”
The Fighting Irish pushed a run across in the top of the fourth after back to back doubles from Ben Smith and Morrison to cut the lead to 7-2.
The Eagles added insurance in the bottom of the fifth, with five runs touching home on three hits to balloon the lead to nine, 12-2.
Stokes got the scoring started with a two-run single with the bases loaded before Layten Copher singled home two more runs with a ground ball up the middle. Tyler Schumann ended the game an at-bat later with a double to right field to plate McReynolds.
“That is what I was waiting to see,” Wolf said. “It was a great job being patient in the third inning but at the same time, let’s be ready to hit. I thought we did a good job of that in the fifth inning—smelling a little blood in the water and going up there ready to hit. I was proud of our guys for competing today and getting after it.”
AT THE PLATE
Guilford had two hits, two walks and scored two runs, while Carlson tripled, walked twice and finished with an RBI and a run scored. Copher had a hit, three RBI, walked and scored a run. Stokes had a hit, two RBI and scored a run, with Schumann adding a hit and two RBI.
Morrison doubled and drove in a run to lead Springfield Catholic.
ON DECK
Joplin hosts Webb City in Central Ozark Conference action on Thursday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
