SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Fifth-seeded Joplin softball saw its season come to an end after falling 9-1 against top-seeded Ozark in the Class 5 District 5 semifinals on Wednesday.
The Tigers (27-7) started the scoring with a run in the first inning before adding three runs in the third, two more in the fourth and another three in the sixth inning before the Eagles reached the scoreboard with a single tally in the seventh inning.
Ozark advances to take on second-seeded Nixa in the district championship at 5 p.m. on Friday.
Joplin finishes the season with a 23-11 season and graduates senior pitcher Jill McDaniel and shortstop Izzy Yust.
Jordyn Foley earned the win in the circle after allowing one unearned run on four hits and 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
McDaniel took the loss after allowing nine runs, six earned, on 10 hits, two walks and six strikeouts in six innings of work.
Audrey Carlton and Savannah Hughes each homered and each had two hits. Carlton also added a triple, three RBI and two runs scored, while Hughes had one RBI and scored twice. Natalie Morgan tripled and had two RBI, while Karissa Roberts doubled and scored a run and Avery Elliot doubled and scored a run.
Yust had a hit and scored a run for Joplin, while McDaniel had a hit and drove in the lone run. Bailey Ledford and Abby Lowery each added base hits.
