BRANSON, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats definitely finished strong in Thursday’s 19-4 Central Ozark Conference softball victory at Branson.
The Wildcats were up 7-3 when they erupted for 12 runs in the top of the seventh inning to blow the game open.
Neosho plated its 19 runs on 14 hits.
Labette Community College recruit Lili Graue went 5-for-6 with five RBI to lead the Wildcats, while Maddie Carpenter drove in five runs on three hits, including a pair of doubles.
McKaylie Forrest, Abbie Carpenter and Beclynn Garrett all had two RBI apiece for Neosho. Tatiyana Douglas scored four runs, while Graue, Forrest and Abbie Carpenter scored three runs apiece.
Neosho’s Chloe Patterson went three innings in the circle, allowing two earned runs on six hits while striking out three.
Carleigh Kinnaird pitched the final four frames to earn the win. She scattered three hits, gave up two runs and struck out three.
Branson’s Peyton Bonsey took the loss after allowing 10 runs, seven earned, on 10 hits with five strikeouts.
Sierra Dailey and Langley Miller had two hits apiece for the Pirates.
Neosho, now 11-7 overall and 3-3 in conference action, is at Webb City on Tuesday.
