WEBB CITY, Mo. — Webb City took control with a three-run first inning and finished strong with a six-run seventh on the way to a 15-3 Central Ozark Conference softball victory over Carl Junction on a windy Tuesday at Chuck Barnes Field.
Webb City, which scored runs in every inning except the second and sixth, improved to 10-7 overall and 3-2 in the COC. Carl Junction fell to 2-17 and 0-5 in conference play.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Carl Junction, but was moved to Webb City’s turf due to wet field conditions.
The visitors on the scoreboard, Webb City plated three runs in the top of the first.
Peyton Hawkins smacked a two-run home run to left. Later in the inning, Emalee Lamar singled and scored after a Ripley Shanks double and a Carl Junction error.
Kaylyn Gilbert’s solo home run to center gave Webb City a 4-0 lead in the third.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the third, as Hannah Cantrell doubled to left and later scored after a Webb City error.
The Cardinals added four runs in the fourth.
Lamar contributed a sacrifice fly, Hannah Wells came home on a CJ miscue in the field, Shanks hit an RBI double and later scored on another error for an 8-1 lead.
In the fifth, Webb City’s Morgan Brannon was hit by a pitch and later scored on Wells’ sac fly.
Carl Junction scored twice in the sixth when Cantrell lined an RBI single to left and Addie Brock drew a bases-loaded walk.
In the six-run seventh, Webb City’s Wells delivered a two-run single, Shanks added a run-scoring single of her own before Hicks added a two-run double and Dawsyn Decker contributed a sac fly.
Hawkins, Gilbert and Shanks had three hits apiece for the Cardinals, while Lamar and Hicks added two hits apiece.
Laney Taylor was the winning pitcher. She gave up two earned runs on five hits and five walks. Taylor struck out seven. Hawkins recorded the final three outs.
Cantrell had two hits to lead the Bulldogs.
Hannah Cole was charged with the loss. Cole allowed 10 earned runs on 16 hits and three walks. She struck out three.
Both teams return to action on Thursday, as Webb City is at Nixa and Carl Junction is at Ozark.
