Softball: Carthage drops close game with Nixa

CARTHAGE, Mo. —  A late rally fell short for the Carthage High School softball team.
The Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh, but it wasn’t enough, as Nixa held on for a 9-7 prep softball win over the Tigers on Thursday at the Fair Acres Sports Complex.
Carthage led 5-3 after four innings, but Nixa plated four runs in the fifth and one apiece in the sixth and seventh innings.
The Tigers recorded 11 hits. Makayla Jennings went 3-for-4, while Landry Cochran, Jensyn Elder and Lauren Haws had two hits apiece.
Cochran and Natalie Rodriguez drove in two runs apiece, while Jennings and Jordyn Jones had one RBI apiece.
Elder took the loss after allowing five earned runs in five innings. She struck out four. Kate Potter allowed two runs in two innings, striking out two.
Nixa’s Maddy Meierer was the winning pitcher. She did not allow an earned run and struck out five.
The Eagles had 10 hits. Phoebe Gardner, Emma Vincent and Meierer had two hits apiece. Maya Herman drove in two runs.
Carthage is scheduled to compete at the Ozark Varsity Invitational on Friday and Saturday.
The Tigers will host Joplin at 4:30 on Tuesday.