CARL JUNCTION ROLLS PAST BRANSON ON SENIOR NIGHT
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carl Junction ballooned a 1-0 lead with a four-run second inning to propel the Bulldogs past Branson 7-1 in Central Ozark Conference play on Thursday.
With the Bulldogs (15-8, 4-4 COC) on top 5-0 after two innings, Carl Junction added two runs in the fourth with the Pirates (6-15, 2-7 COC) breaking through with a run in the sixth before CJ closed out the victory.
Carl Junction honored seniors Keaton Johnston, Cole Stewart, Carson Johnson, Jaxson Mackney, Alex Baker, Noah Southern, Lance Smith, Dylan Eck, Drew Beyer and Brendyn Downs in their last regular season home game.
Baker got the scoring started for the Bulldogs in the first with an RBI single to plate Beyer, who singled through the right side earlier in the inning.
Dalton Mills had an RBI single in the second, which was later followed by a two-run single from Beyer to highlight the frame.
Carl Junction added a pair of runs in the fourth after scoring twice on wild pitches.
Baker earned the win on the mound after allowing one run on nine hits, three walks and six strikeouts in a complete-game, seven-inning effort.
Jackson Miller took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and three walks in three innings pitched.
Beyer, Downs and Mills all had two hits each to lead Carl Junction at the plate. Beyer and Mills each scored a run and drove in one, while Downs scored a run. Johnson, Southern, Baker, Dylan Eck and Smith all recorded hits for Carl Junction.
Carl Junction is at Seneca for a doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch for Game 1 set for 10 a.m.
OZARK TAKES CONROL EARLY IN WIN OVER CARTHAGE
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Ozark scored three runs in the second inning and battled to a 4-2 lead through six innings before scoring three times in the seventh en route to a 7-2 Central Ozark Conference win over Carthage on Thursday at Carl Lewton Stadium.
Hunter Tennison earned the win for Ozark after allowing two runs on seven hits, two walks and 10 strikeouts in six innings.
Kaden Arr took the loss after allowing four runs, three earned, on 11 hits, three walks and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Parker Copeland led Carthage at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Caden Kabance, Wil McCombs, Kaden Kralicek, Sylas Browning, Max Templeman, Grant Collier and Braxdon Tate all recorded hits for Carthage.
Carthage hosts Lebanon and Aurora in a doubleheader slated for 10 a.m. on Saturday.
NIXA RALLIES LATE FOR WIN OVER NEOSHO
NEOSHO, Mo. — Nixa scored nine runs in the last three innings to rally back for a 13-10 win over Neosho in the Wildcats’ final Central Ozark Conference matchup of the season on Thursday.
Neosho scored three runs in the first inning, four times in the second and two more runs in the fourth to take a 9-4 lead. Nixa rallied with a four spot in the fifth to cut the lead to 9-8 before adding three runs in sixth and two more in the seventh to earn the win.
Keith Piepmeier earned the win in relief after allowing three runs on seven hits, a walk and 10 strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Carter Fenske took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits, three walks and a strikeout in one relief inning. Lane Yost started and allowed eight runs, three earned, on five hits, three walks and a strikeout in 4 1/3 innings.
River Brill had three hits, including a solo home run, to go along with two runs scored and an RBI, while Yost had three hits, including a double and a triple, and a team-high four runs scored and two RBI to lead Neosho at the plate. Eli Zar had two hits and two RBI, whil Chase Flynn had one hit and drove in two.
Neosho hosts East Newton on Monday for Senior Night.
