JOPLIN 1, MCDONALD COUNTY 0
ANDERSON, Mo. — Joplin’s Justin McReynolds flirted with a no-n0 while getting the better of McDonald County’s Weston Gordon in a pitcher’s duel on Tuesday.
The Eagles (3-3) scored in the top of the first inning and McReynolds didn’t allow a hit until the bottom of the seventh inning, with just two baserunners reaching prior on a hit-by-pitch and a walk, on the way to a complete-game shutout.
Joplin got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning in an unconventional way. With one out, Cole Lawrence and Byler Reither reached after back-to-back hit-by-pitches before McReynolds reached on an error on the infield by McDonald County (4-5) to load the bases.
The Eagles went in front when Landon Maples picked up the early RBI after sending a ball deep enough to the outfield to allow Lawrence to tag up at third and score for a 1-0 lead on the sacrifice fly.
With the slim one-run cushion intact, McReynolds and Gordon traded zeros on the scoreboard throughout the remainder of the contest.
McReynolds’ no-hit bid ended in the bottom of the seventh inning when Isaac Behm led off with a single to left. McReynolds retired the next three batters he faced to end the contest. He earned the complete-game win on one hit, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a six strikeouts in seven innings.
Gordon took the loss after allowing one unearned run, while scattering four hits, walking one and striking out five in seven complete innings.
Brady Mails, Reither, Jackson Queen and Caden Shoemaker all had hits for Joplin.
The Mustangs are at Webb City on April 4.
Joplin hosts John Hersey (Illinois) on Wednesday.
WEBB CITY 6, JOHN HERSEY 0
WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City used a three-run first inning to build an early lead and never looked back in a win over John Hersey (Illinois) on Tuesday.
The Cardinals (3-3) took control of the contest in the opening frame when Shaun Hunt hit a run-scoring double to center in front of Drew Vonder Haar’s two-run home run to left that scored Sam Weller for a 3-0 lead.
Webb City added to its lead in the fourth inning with two insurance runs. Cy Darnell highlighted the frame with an RBI single to left to score William Hayes.
Weller picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly in the last of the sixth.
Landon Fletcher earned the win for Webb City after pitching 5 2/3 on scoreless baseball, scattering three hits and striking out five. Brett North pitched 1 1/3 scoreless relief innings, striking out one and walking one.
Matt Lemke took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.
Darnell had two hits, an RBI and scored a run for the Cardinals, while Vonder Haar homered, had two RBI and scored a run. Hays had two hits and scored two runs, while Hunt doubled and drove in a run.
Webb City hosts Lakes Community (Illinois) on Thursday at Missouri Southern’s Warren Turner Field.
NEOSHO 9, COLGAN 2
NEOSHO, Mo. — Neosho scored four runs in the first inning and added a pair of crooked numbers later for insurance on the way to a win over St. Mary’s Colgan (Kansas) on Tuesday.
Eli Zar had an RBI single to start the scoring for Neosho (6-1) in the first inning, tying the game at 1-1, before Kael Smith doubled to center to plate another run. Hudson Williams wrapped the inning’s scoring with a two-run single up the middle.
River Brill, Quenton Hughes and Zar had back-to-back-to-back RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Austin Rodriguez earned the complete-game win for the Wildcats after allowing two runs on five hits, three walks and four strikeouts in seven innings.
Kysen Bennett took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
Zar led Neosho at the plate with three hits and two RBI. Hughes and Brill each had two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Smith doubled, scored a run and drove in one, while Williams had a hit, two RBI and a run scored.
Neosho hosts Lakes Community on Wednesday.
CARL JUNCTION 4, AURORA 2
AURORA, Mo. — Carl Junction built an early lead and added insurance in the middle innings on the way to a win over Aurora on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (2-3) plated two runs in the first inning before the Houn’ Dawgs answered with a run in the bottom of the opening frame. CJ added a single run in the second and Aurora matched it with a run in the third before the Bulldogs touched the plate for the final time in the game with an insurance tally in the fourth frame.
Gaige Carson earned the win for Carl Junction after allowing two runs on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts in six innings. Lucas Vanlanduit allowed one hit and struck out one in an inning of relief.
Heath Hoffman took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits, two walks and three strikeouts in one-plus innings of work.
Bentley Rowden had a hit, scored twice and drove in one for the Bulldogs, while Wyatt McAfee had two hits and an RBI. Cody Hollingsworth doubled and scored a run.
Kelton Brown had three hits, including two doubles, and scored a run for Aurora.
Carl Junction hosts Frontenac on Thursday.
SENECA 12, REEDS SPRING 1
SENECA, Mo. — Seneca scored in each of the first four innings, including a six-run, second inning, on the way to a five-inning win over Reed Springs on Tuesday.
The Indians (4-2) also scored a run in the first inning, two in the third inning and three more in the fourth to wrap their scoring.
Grant Houchin earned the win after allowing one unearned run on two hits and five strikeouts without surrendering a hit.
Will Foster took the loss after allowing nine runs, six earned, on six hits and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
Houchin helped himself at the plate with a home run, three RBI and a run scored. Brian Bigbee had two hits, while Conner Ackerson had a hit, scored once and drove in two. Lincoln Renfro and Hagen Ginger each had a hit, drove in one and scored one.
Seneca takes part in the Monett Tournament over the weekend.
NEVADA 5, SMITH-COTTON 2
NEVADA, Mo. — Nevada broke a 2-all tie with a three-run fifth inning on the way to a win over Smith-Cotton on Tuesday.
Consecutive one-out singles from Cade Beshore and Drake Ketterman put a pair of runners on for the Tigers (3-2) in the fifth and Caden Klumpp brought them both home with a two-out, two-run single to left two batters later to give Nevada a 4-2 lead. Nevada added an insurance run on an error later in the inning.
Beshore earned the win on the mound after allowing two runs on four hits, a walk and five strikeouts in four innings. Kennedy D’Elia pitched 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings on one hit and two strikeouts.
Beshore had two hits, including a triple, at the plate, scored once and drove in one. Ketterman had two hits and scored a run. Klumpp had a hit, drove in two and scored a run. Case Sanderson doubled in a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
Nevada hosts Carthage on Thursday.
