NEOSHO, Mo. — McDonald County rode a strong start from ace Madeline McCall and broke an early 2-2 tie by scoring five unanswered runs on the way to a 7-3 win over Neosho on Monday at the Neosho Athletic Complex in what could be a future Class 4 District 6 matchup come postseason time.
The Mustangs scored twice in the top of the first inning before the Wildcats answered back with two runs of their own in the second to tie the game. McDonald County plated two runs in the third and added three insurance runs in the fifth to steal the momentum permanently en route to the win.
“Neosho is a great team, so hats off to them for competing,” McDonald County coach Heath Alumbaugh said. “We wanted to score early and put pressure on them, and we were able to do that. We just kept adding on to that throughout the game while Madeline McCall threw well in the circle. … We had one blunder defensively, but we were able to clean it up, execute and play clean for the rest of the game.”
With the win, McDonald County improves to 7-1, while Neosho falls to 5-4.
“Defensively, we just have to be more consistent,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “When you have a young pitcher, you have to make plays behind them. … We just didn’t do a great job of that. They took advantage of every mistake we made and we didn’t take advantage of every mistake they made. That is a huge difference in the game.”
IN THE CIRCLE
McCall earned the complete-game win in the circle for McDonald County after allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits, three walks and 16 strikeouts in seven innings of work.
“I don’t know that it was her best outing of the year,” Alumbaugh said. “There were a few too many walks than we would like, but for the most part, she was able to command the zone and move the ball around and just do what Madeline does. And that’s what we expect from her.”
Carleigh Kinnaird took the loss after allowing seven runs, two earned, on six hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. Chloe Patterson did not allow a run in 2 1/3 relief innings, surrendering one hit and striking out two.
“We didn’t pitch the best we could,” Cummins said. “I don’t think we pitched poorly, though. I thought Carleigh had a good game. She was getting some calls early that she didn’t get later in the game, and as a young arm, that is hard to adjust to. I thought she did a good job of working through it.
“Chloe was nails. She came in with the bases loaded and two outs and got an out. Then, she didn’t allow a run the rest of the time she was in.”
GAME ACTION
McDonald County jumped in front quickly when Reagan Myrick smacked a one-out, two-run home run to center field in the top of the first inning to give the Mustangs a 2-0 advantage.
“Reagan had a great at-bat,” Alumbaugh said. “She was able to drive one out, and that was huge for us to get that momentum early. In a rivalry, district atmosphere type of game, usually the team that scores first and gets the momentum tends to go on and win it.”
Neosho rallied in the last of the second inning when Grace Johnson reached first on a bunt, with the Mustangs’ throw sailing over the first-base bag to the corner in right field to allow both Abbie Carpenter and Johnson to score on the play to tie the game at 2-2.
Myrick came up big again for McDonald County in the third inning, ripping a ball to the gap in right-center for an RBI double. A pair of Neosho errors on the play allowed Myrick to touch home to push the Mustangs’ lead to 4-2.
“Reagan is in the three hole for a reason,” Alumbaugh said of Myrick’s at-bat. “She has been doing that for us all season. To answer back right there … she knows she just needed a good at-bat and didn’t need anything before to come through for us.”
Nevaeh Dodson singled to lead off the fifth for McDonald County before coming around to score on a passed ball to make the score 5-2. Jacie Frencken singled up the middle later in the inning to score a run and push the lead to 6-2. McDonald County added a third run on a passed ball to wrap the scoring.
Beclynn Garrett singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh and scored later in the inning on a passed ball for the Wildcats’ final run of the game.
IN THE BOX
Myrick homered, doubled, drove in a team-high three runs and scored twice to lead McDonald County at the plate. McCall added two hits and scored a run.
Lili Graue, McKaylie Forrest and Garret had the three hits for Neosho. Carpenter, Johnson and Garrett all scored runs.
UP NEXT
Neosho hosts Carl Junction on Tuesday.
McDonald County hosts Seneca on Tuesday.
