BRANSON, Mo. — Neosho won all three games on Saturday to take first place in the Branson Lady Pirate Softball Tournament.
The Wildcats earned a 6-5 win over Joplin in their first contest before defeating Glendale 9-1 and Lebanon 8-0 to wrap up play.
NEOSHO 6, JOPLIN 5
Joplin scored five runs in the first three innings to build a 5-4 lead before Neosho rallied with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to earn a 6-5 win Saturday morning.
Neosho’s Brittany Winchester reached first on an error to start the last of the fourth before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a flyout. With two outs, Lili Graue singled to center to bring home Winchester to tie the game at 5-5.
Neosho’s Abbie Carpenter walked with one out in the last of the fifth before a double by Alivia Campbell put runners on second and third. Maddie Carpenter followed with a fly ball to center field to bring home Carpenter in walk-off fashion with a sacrifice fly to send Neosho to a 6-5 win.
Campbell doubled and had two hits to go along with an RBI to lead Neosho. Graue, Sierra Jones, Carpenter and Winchester all recorded hits. Graue scored twice and drove in one.
Winchester earned the win in the circle after pitching two scoreless innings in relief, striking out one. Chloe Patterson started and took the no-decision after allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
Joplin’s Bailey Ledford finished with two hits, an RBI and a run scored to lead the Eagles. Kami Manning had one hit, one RBI and two runs scored. Izzy Yust, Madisyn Tracy and Abby McGinnis all recorded hits for Joplin.
Jill McDaniel took the loss after allowing six runs, one earned, on six hits and two walks.
NEOSHO 9, GLENDALE 1
Neosho scored three runs in the first inning, one in the second, two in each the third and fourth frames and another run in the fifth inning to cruise past Glendale in the Wildcats’ second game on Saturday.
Graue led Neosho with three hits, including a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while Kaitlyn Killion, who tripled, finished with two hits and two runs scored. Jones added two hits and an RBI, while Trinity Drake doubled and drove in two.
Winchester earned the win in the circle after allowing one run on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts.
NEOSHO 8, LEBANON 0
After scoring once in the bottom of the first, Neosho pulled away from Lebanon with a six-run second inning en route to the win.
Campbell led Neosho with three hits, including a triple, two RBI and a run scored. Graue tripled on the way to two hits, two RBI and a run scored. Killion had two hits and scored two runs, while McKaylie Forrest had one hit, scored one and drove in two. Maelynn Garrett had one hit, scored a run and drove in one.
Phenix Scott earned the win after holding Lebanon scoreless over three innings, allowing two hits and striking out three. Winchester pitched two scoreless innings in release, striking out one.
