OZARK, Mo. — Carl Junction ended Central Ozark Conference play on a sour note, as the Bulldogs suffered a 6-5 loss to Nixa in nine innings on Monday night at US Ballpark.
Nixa led 3-0 when the Bulldogs scored twice in the top of the fourth.
Noah Southern was hit by a pitch and scored when the Eagles couldn’t corral Alex Baker’s fly ball to center. Baker later scored on Brendyn Downs’ groundout.
Nixa took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth after a hit by pitch, a walk and an error.
Carl Junction tied it up in the top of the sixth, as Southern walked before Dylan Eck hit an inside the park home run.
The game went into extra innings after neither team scored in the seventh.
Carl Junction broke through in the ninth, as Cole Wilson walked and went to second on Dalton Mills’ sacrifice.
Wilson went to third on a wild pitch before Cole Stewart walked. Wilson scored the go-ahead run on a double steal.
Nixa ended the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom half of the ninth.
Alek Johnson and Rylan Michel hit back to back doubles to tie the score at five.
Jerris Thornton reached on an error, with Michel taking third. With Jack Edwards at the plate, Michel charged home on a wild pitch for the game-winning run.
Eck went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Bulldogs, who were limited to five hits. Southern scored two runs.
Drew Beyer struck out nine in five innings on the mound and allowed two earned runs. Eck went three innings and allowed two earned runs while striking out five.
Nixa’s Isaac Mitchell went seven innings and struck out seven. Sam Russo pitched the final two innings and gave up one run.
Michel had a big day for the Eagles, as he went 4-for-4 with three RBI.
Carl Junction (16-9) hosts St. Mary’s Colgan at 4:30 on Tuesday.
