SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Top-seeded Nixa overcame an early deficit to knock off fifth-seeded Carthage 5-3 on Thursday in a semifinal contest of the Class 5 District 6 tournament at Springfield Central.
Carthage ends the season with a record of 21-14.
The Tigers plated two runs in the top of the third inning to take an early lead. The first run scored on Mary Grace Richmond’s sacrifice fly before Kate Potter’s run-scoring grounder made it 2-0.
But Nixa pushed across four runs in the fourth. The big inning was highlighted by Kaylee Schlenker’s three-run double.
Both teams traded single runs in the fifth inning.
Carthage’s run scored on Ashlyn Brust’s RBI single. Nixa went up 5-3 in the bottom half when Phoebe Gardner singled and later scored on a Carthage error.
Carthage was limited to four hits. Brust went 3-for-3, while Brooklyn Dolon-Main had one hit.
Carthage’s Jensyn Elder took the loss. Elder allowed four earned runs on eight hits in six innings with four strikeouts.
Maddy Meierer was the winning pitcher. She went the distance and allowed three runs on four hits and struck out nine.
Chloe Karns and Paige Garetson had two hits apiece for Nixa.
Nixa meets second-seeded Ozark on Friday in the district championship game. Ozark defeated third-seeded Republic 4-3.
