BRANSON, Mo. — Webb City was kept off the scoreboard for the first three innings of Wednesday’s LAEL Leadoff Classic clash at Branson’s Pirate Park.
But the Cardinals erupted for multiple runs in three straight innings en route to an 8-5 come-from-behind win over the Pirates.
Webb City improved to 3-0 on the season.
The Pirates plated a single tally in the first inning without recording a hit against Webb City starting pitcher Gavin Stowell, as Lance Strahan was hit by a pitch and later scored on an error.
Kaleb Vejraska’s RBI double and Javen Finkbone’s run-scoring single gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead in the second inning.
The Cardinals tied the game by scoring three runs in the fourth. With one out, Shane Noel singled before Cole Gayman blasted a two-run home run to left.
Later in the inning, Jeremiah Leaming’s RBI single scored Cooper Crouch and made it 3-3.
Branson re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on Finkbone’s RBI single.
Webb City went ahead for good with two runs in the fifth.
Devrin Weathers reached on an error and Treghan Parker sacrificed before Matt Woodmansee delivered a game-tying single into right field.
Noel doubled and later charged home on Eli Goddard’s RBI single to center. That pushed Webb City in front 5-4.
The Cardinals added three insurance runs in the sixth.
Weathers hit an RBI single and took second on the throw home. Weathers stole third and came home on a wild pitch.
Parker walked and later scored on Noel’s sacrifice fly, giving the visitors an 8-4 advantage.
Branson got a run back in the bottom half on a bases loaded walk for the final margin.
Leaming went 3-for-4 for the Cardinals, while Noel had two hits. Seven different Cardinals had hits, while Weathers and Noel scored two runs apiece.
Stowell allowed three earned runs on three hits and six walks while striking out four in 3 2/3 innings.
Eric Fitch earned the win after going 1 1/3 innings in relief. Goddard pitched the final two frames. He did not allow a run and struck out three.
Branson’s Ty Jenkins took the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. Kale Lankton started and allowed five runs, three earned, on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Finkbone went 3-for-4 with two RBI for the Pirates.
Webb City is at Hillcrest at 3 on Friday.
