AURORA, Mo. — Joplin opened the season with a 12-1 win over Aurora and an additional 15-2 win over Carl Junction in the Branson-Aurora Bash on Friday to open the season 2-0.
Carl Junction fell to Aurora in their second game of the day.
JOPLIN 12, AURORA 1
After a scoreless first inning, Joplin pushed across five runs in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth inning en route to a five inning win over Aurora to open the season.
The Eagles’ first runs of the season came across to score on a Libby Munn two-run home run in the top of the second for a 2-0 lead. Jadyn Pankow added a two-out three-run home run to left later in the inning to push the lead to 5-0.
Jill McDaniel had a two-run single while Abby Lowery added an RBI single in the third inning to make the score 8-0 in favor of Joplin.
Bailey Ledford picked up and RBI on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth before Izzy Yust bought home Lowery with an RBI single to make the score 11-1. Liz Snider doubled home Yust later in the frame for a 12-1 advantage.
McDaniel earned the win in the circle after allowing one run on two hits, a walk and six strikeouts in five innings of work.
Munn doubled and homered and drove in two, while Pankow had three hits, including a home run, and a team-high three RBI and two runs scored. Snider doubled for one of her two hits and drove in a run. McDaniel had two hits, drove in two and scored three runs.
JOPLIN 15, CARL JUNCTION 2
Joplin started even faster in the second game, scoring seven times in the first inning before going on to close out the win over Carl Junction in five innings.
The Eagles’ seven-run first inning was highlighted by a two-run triple from Izzy Yust and a run-scoring single by Bailey Ledford. Madisyn Tracy, Ashley Phillips and Abby Lowery each added an RBI in the inning.
Hope Oakley picked up an RBI on a groundout in the second to make the score 8-0.
Joplin’s third inning was highlighted by an RBI triple from Yust, an RBI double from Liz Snider and an RBI single by Oakley.
Yust drove in a run with a third triple of the game in the fourth inning before Taryn Casey added an RBI single to make the score 15-2. Jadyn Pankow had a sac fly RBI as well.
Pankow earned the win in the circle after allowing two runs on three hits, six walks and three strikeouts in four innings. Payton Jones pitched a scoreless inning in relief and walked one and struck out one.
Hannah Cole took the loss for Carl Junction after allowing 12 runs, five earned, on 10 hits, three walks and one strikeout. Emma Flemming allowed three unearned runs on two hits and two walks in one relief inning.
Yust had three triples, a team-high four RBI and scored three times to lead Joplin at the plate. Ledford, Snider, Tracy and Oakley each had two hits. Ledford scored once and drove in one, Snider scored three times and drove in one, while Oakley had two RBI and scored once with Tracy also picking up an RBI.
Addie Brock had two hits and scored a run to lead the Bulldogs, while Hannah Cantrell also picked up a hit.
AURORA 9, CARL JUNCTION 8
Carl Junction jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Aurora answered with six runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the fourth and three more in the top of the fifth to jump in front 8-6 before the Houn’ Dawgs rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to defeat Carl Junction to wrap the Bulldogs’ play on the first day of the bash.
Abby Williams earned the win for Aurora after allowing eight runs, six earned, on 10 hits, six walks and five strikeouts in five complete innings.
Hannah Cantrell started and took the no-decision in the circle for Carl Junction after allowing six unearned runs on one hit, four walks and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning. Hannah Cole allowed one run on two hits, a walk and a strikeout in 3 1/3 innings, while Jamie Fabozzi was saddled with the loss after allowing two unearned runs on one hit, a walk and a strikeout in 2/3 of an inning.
Madi Olds led Carl Junction at the plate with three hits, including a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Izzie Southern homered on the way to two hits, three RBI and a run scored, while Allison Plumlee had two hits and drove in two.
