OZARK, Mo. — Joplin built a 9-4 advantage by the end of the fourth inning and held off Ozark to earn a 10-8 win in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday.
Justin McReynolds earned the win after allowing eight runs, six earned, on eight hits, a walk and six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Josh Harryman pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief, striking out three while allowing one hit.
Holton Miller started and took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits, a walk and three strikeouts in two innings.
The Tigers (7-11, 3-3 COC) built an early lead after scoring three times in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Brody Banmann.
Joplin (13-7, 5-1 COC) rallied back with five runs touching home in the top of the fourth to take a two-run advantage. Carson Wampler and Bodee Carlson each had RBI singles, while Kyler Stokes and Fielding Campbell each drove in a run with sacrifice flies. Ethan Guilford also picked up an RBI after drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Guilford picked up another RBI in the third with a sac fly to center, but Ozark’s Cooper Buvid singled in a run in the bottom of the inning to make the score 6-4.
Joplin’s Alex Curry singled up the middle to plate Carlson and Campbell in the last of the fourth to double the lead at 8-4. Joplin added its ninth run of the game later in the inning on an Ozark error.
The Tigers charged back with four runs scoring in the last of the fifth to trim the lead to 9-8. Holden Sabor and Banmann both picked up run-scoring hits in the inning.
Guilford drew another bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth to add an insurance run for the Eagles.
Carlson doubled while finishing with two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Joplin. Campbell had two hits, scored twice and drove in one. Curry and Kirk Chandler each had two hits. Curry drove in two and scored once, while Chandler scored a run.
UP NEXT
Joplin is at Republic on Thursday.
