CARTHAGE, Mo. — The Carthage Tigers rallied from a 6-2 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning and one in the sixth for an 8-6 win over their Central Ozark Conference rival Carl Junction on Tuesday in the Fair Acres Sports Complex.
“Monday night (against Nevada), we came out early in the first inning and scored four,” Carthage coach Stephanie Ray said. “Tonight, we did start a little slow and once we got finally got it going and even though we only scored two in that inning (third), they were solid hits. We started scoring and hitting the ball hard. We even hit some shots they made good plays on, especially their center fielder (Ryleigh Palmer), and we could have scored more runs.”
After two relatively quiet innings, Carthage started the ball rolling in the third against Carl Junction freshman pitcher Kylie Spencer with a pair of runs on four hits.
Carl Junction extended the lead to 6-2 in the next half-inning, highlighted by Sammie Sims’ two-run single.
Lexa Youngblood hustled for a double in the fifth and then the Tigers did their scoreboard damage all with two outs. Ashlynn Jackson hit an RBI single, Shelby Hegwer a RBI double, Addison Wallace a RBI single, and Jenna Calhoon a RBI single.
Hegwer’s RBI single in the sixth provided more than enough insurance for the sophomore Wallace, who earned the win behind 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief after starter Jackson departed in the Carl Junction fourth.
Jackson and Calhoon each led Carthage with three hits, Hegwer and Ashlyn Brust each added two, and Youngblood, Alexis Smith, Brooklynn Dolon-Main and Wallace rounded out Carthage’s 14-hit attack with one each.
Hegwer, Jackson, and Youngblood each doubled and Hegwer and Wallace each drove in two runs, while Jackson scored two runs.
Wallace allowed two hits and struck out seven and walked none.
Carthage honored seniors Landry Cochran, Jackson and Avery Smith in a Senior Night ceremony after the win.
“Landry’s been a four-year starter,” Ray said. “She has definitely been key in our outfield for the last four years. She’s a great leader.
“Ashlynn, in the last couple years, has got her opportunity some in the outfield, some on the mound, and this year she was able to go out and own that role. She’s been our starting pitcher every day. She’s been huge out there, kept us in a lot of ballgames, and gave us a lot of opportunities.
“Avery’s been a player, she came on as a sophomore and she’s been on the team the last three years. She’s been that role player, and a super great kid for us.”
Carthage, 14-12 overall and 3-4 COC, returns home Thursday for a contest against conference and district foe Republic.
Sims sparked Carl Junction with three hits and three RBI Tuesday and Hannah Cantrell added three hits and two runs scored, while Maddie Olds had two hits and two RBI.
Sims, Cantrell, and Olds each stole two bases.
The Bulldogs hurt themselves with four errors, three of which allowed Carthage runners to reach, but freshman center fielder Palmer made a catch to deny Carthage more damage.
Carl Junction, 7-11 overall and 1-6 COC, returns home on Thursday for a conference game against Ozark.
