CARTHAGE, Mo. — Carl Junction used a big fifth inning to defeat Carthage in the Bill O’Dell Tournament championship game on Friday at Carl Lewton Stadium.
The Tigers (5-5) and Bulldogs (5-7)—which met in last year’s tournament championship game, with the Tigers winning—went into the fifth inning tied at one before Carl Junction erupted for five runs on six hits to take control of the contest and added insurance in the seventh. Carthage stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth and left two runners on base in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
ON THE MOUND
Logan Eck earned the win after allowing one unearned run on two hits and a walk in five innings of work for the Bulldogs. Lucas Vanlanduit worked two scoreless relief innings, surrendering one hit, walking two and striking out three.
Kanen Vogt took the complete-game loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, on 11 hits, two walks and three strikeouts in seven innings.
GAME ACTION
Carl Junction took the initial lead when Cole Wilson singled to right field to score Dalton Mills, who singled to center earlier in the inning.
Carthage answered back in the bottom of the third inning when Drew Musche delivered with an RBI single to left field to plate Clay Kinder, who reached on an error.
The first four batters reached base for the Bulldogs to start the big fifth inning, with Wilson starting things with a base hit to left before getting into scoring position by stealing second base. Eck followed with a single through the right side to score Wilson for a 2-1 lead. Arlen Wakefield followed with a double to right field to put two runners in scoring position, with Vanlanduit making it four straight hits with a two-run single to right.
Two batters later, Jordan Woodruff drove home a run with a double to left, with Mills adding a two-out RBI single later in the frame to wrap the scoring.
AT THE PLATE
Woodruff had three hits, including a double, an RBI and a run scored to lead the
Bulldogs offensively. Mills, Wilson and Eck each had two hits, drove in one and scored a run. Wakefield doubled and scored a run.
Nate Norbury, Logan Carmickle and Musche all had hits for Carthage. Musche added an RBI.
ON DECK
Carthage and Carl Junction won’t have to wait long for a rematch, as the Tigers and Bulldogs battle in a Central Ozark Conference clash at Carl Lewton Stadium on Tuesday. Carthage is at Webb City on Monday.
