WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City opened Central Ozark Conference play with a dominating 12-2 win over Joplin in six innings thanks to an offensive outburst in the fourth inning on Tuesday at Barnes Field.
The Cardinals (6-2, 1-0 COC) took the initial 2-0 lead with a pair of runs scoring in the bottom of the first inning. The Eagles (7-5, 0-1 COC) scored twice in the top of the third inning to tie the game up, but it didn’t last long. Webb City took all of the momentum in the last of the fourth after crossing home eight times to move in front 10-2, adding two runs in the sixth inning to end the game early.
“I think it was a good confidence builder for the girls to come out in the conference opener to put up a lot of runs and dominate,” Webb City coach Shauna Friend said.
“We have to find a way to battle against these good teams,” Joplin coach Manny Flores said. “We can’t give away too many free bases, and in that (fourth) inning, we did. I think we had four or five free passes. … We just have to find a way to command the zone and execute our defense better.”
Freshman Laney Taylor earned the win for Webb City in the circle. She limited Joplin to two runs on six hits, one walk and four strikeouts in six innings of work.
“Laney came out and did a fabulous job today,” Friend said. “She has really good control and command of her pitches. For a freshman coming out in a big game like this, she has really good composure and I think that works well for her.”
Junior Jill McDaniel took the loss for the Eagles after surrendering 12 runs, 10 earned, on 10 hits, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings of work.
“She threw well in the other five innings but against good teams, you can’t take any innings off,” Flores said. “Great teams are going to take advantage and this is exactly what they did. We have to be on for seven innings if we are going to compete and find a way to win a game.”
GAME ACTION
Webb City wasted little time getting the offense going in the bottom of the first thanks to back to back one-out singles from senior Morgan Brannon and senior Hannah Wells to put runners on second and third. Two batters later, senior Kaylyn Gilbert came up with a two-out single up the middle with two strikes in the count to plate the first run for a 1-0 advantage. An error on a popup by Joplin later in the inning allowed the Cardinals’ second run to score.
“Kaylyn had a great game at the plate overall,” Friend said. “Getting us kicked off with that two-run hit was key for us to get momentum.”
Joplin cut the lead in half in the top of the third after freshman Abby Lowery doubled to lead off the inning before coming around to score on the back end of a double steal to make the score 2-1. Junior Izzy Yust singled to right field later in the inning with a runner in scoring position to tie the game at 2-2.
Webb City essentially put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk and a one-out hit-by-pitch, sophomore Dawsyn Decker dropped down a squeeze bunt with runners on second and third for an RBI to give Webb City a 3-2 lead.
After a walk, senior Peyton Hawkins doubled down the left-field line with the bases loaded to drive in two runs and push the lead to 5-2.
A hit-by-pitch in the next at-bat loaded the bases for the Cardinals once more before Wells went opposite field for a double to right-center to plate three runs and push the margin to 8-2.
Gilbert and senior Lauren Hicks both picked up RBI doubles down the third-base line later in the inning to give the Cardinals a 10-2 advantage. Webb City hit four total doubles in the frame.
“They have a lot of power,” Friend said about the depth of the Cardinals’ lineup. “They swing the bat hard. That is what we ask from them every day. It is nice to have the power up and down the lineup, but also the ability to lay down the bunt when you need to. The offense is coming around.”
Webb City ended the game early after touching home twice in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single from senior Emalee Lamar and a sacrifice fly from Gilbert.
STATS
Gilbert and Wells each finished with two hits and a team-high three RBI to go along with two runs scored. Brannon had two hits and scored a team-high three runs for the Cardinals.
Lowery had two hits and a run scored for Joplin, while Yust had a hit and drove in one. Sophomore Bailey Ledford had a hit and scored a run.
UP NEXT
Webb City is at Ozark on Thursday.
Joplin is at Branson on Thursday.
