WEBB CITY, Mo. —Taking advantage of extra outs and free passes, McDonald County scored five runs in the first inning en route to a 6-3 victory over Webb City on an extremely windy and unseasonably warm Tuesday at Chuck Barnes Field.
In a clash between district foes, the opening frame proved crucial.
The Mustangs pushed across five runs in the top of the first. And they did it with just one hit while taking advantage of five walks, two errors and a hit batter.
“We talked about approaches before the game and I thought our kids went up there with patient approaches early in the game,” Mustangs coach Heath Alumbaugh said. “We made Darnell work on the mound and that was key to the first inning. We only had one hit in that inning, but we were able to capitalize on a couple of errors and those walks. Overall, it was a good team win across the board.”
“You can’t walk five guys in one inning and expect to win many baseball games,” Webb City coach Andrew Doennig said. “And you can’t give teams crooked innings and expect to win games. That’s one thing that has killed us in a few games this season. It’s something we have to clean up and get better at.”
After two errors and a walk to start the game, McDonald County’s Isaac Behm slapped a run-scoring single into left field.
Weston Gordon contributed a sacrifice fly to right before Jacob Gordon and Devin Stone both drew bases-loaded walks, chasing Webb City senior right-hander Kaylor Darnell and giving the visitors a four-run cushion.
Junior right-hander Payton Marshall took over on the mound with the bases full and plunked Destyn Dowd to make it 5-0 before inducing an inning-ending pop-up.
The Cardinals got a run back in the bottom of the first on Drew Vonder Haar’s RBI double into right-center. Pinch runner Andrew Elwell scored on the play before Vonder Haar was thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple.
Webb City scored once in the third, as Sam Weller tripled to right and charged home on Gage Chapman’s sac fly.
The Mustangs added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on Behm’s RBI double.
Trailing 6-2, the Cardinals made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh.
Christian Brock doubled, and after an out, Chapman delivered a run-scoring single.
After Cy Darnell was retired, Kaylor Darnell singled before Shaun Hunt walked.
After taking over on the mound with the bases loaded, McDonald County reliever Angel Ruiz was able to record the final out.
“All you can ask the kids to do is get on base,” Doennig said. “They did that in the seventh and they gave us a chance. Sometimes it’s just a little bit too late.”
Senior right-hander Weston Gordon was the winning pitcher. He went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out four.
“That’s what Weston Gordon does for us,” Alumbaugh said. “He changes speeds really well. He knows he has a great defense behind him and he doesn’t have to strike people out. Because of that, he throws a ton of strikes and lets the defense play.
“And Angel Ruiz has already come through in the clutch for us this season,” Alumbaugh added. “He closed the door.”
Kaylor Darnell took the loss. He allowed one earned run on one hit and five walks.
Marshall was stellar in relief. Marshall tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven, allowing no hits and walking just one.
Doennig noted Marshall kept his team in the game by putting up zeros inning after inning in relief.
“What a great job by Payton,” Doennig said. “He did the same thing on Friday for us. It was a great job by him coming in and keeping the other team down. He got strike one, that was the difference.”
Walker Sweet gave up one run on two hits in the seventh, striking out two.
The Cardinals out-hit the Mustangs 8-3.
Chapman went 2-for-3 with two RBI for Webb City. Behm had two of Mac County’s three hits and drove in two runs.
McDonald County improved to 7-5, while Webb City fell to 6-5.
Both teams are listed in the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association’s latest rankings. Webb City is ranked ninth in Class 5, while McDonald County is receiving votes.
The Cardinals and Mustangs could see each other again, as both squads have been assigned to Class 5 District 7.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Webb City opens COC play on Thursday at Neosho.
McDonald County hosts Hollister on Thursday.
