Joplin used a two-out base hit with runners in scoring position to take a lead in the bottom of the third inning before Ozark used crooked numbers in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to rally and pull away from Joplin in a 10-5 win over the Eagles in Central Ozark Conference action on Thursday.
“I told the girls today after the game that I need to be better,” Joplin coach Brendan Schneider said. “I didn’t do a very good job coaching today to be honest with you. I think that was pretty apparent to anyone that came to the game. … Ultimately, to me, this loss started at the coaching level and just trickled down. … We have to be better, and we will.
“Luckily, we have a long weekend and I think it will be good for us to get away. We have the Pancake Feed fundraiser on Saturday, and we are always excited about that. The kids have a fun time and really enjoy it. That will be at the Southwest Missouri Fraternal Order of Police Hall. Hopefully, that will allow us to clear our heads because next week is going to be tough.”
The Tigers (10-6, 2-2 COC) held a 1-0 after the first inning before the Eagles (9-8, 2-3 COC) rallied in the third inning when Jadyn Pankow delivered a single up the middle to plate the runners from second and third for a pair of two-out RBI and a 2-1 lead.
“I thought that was a great adjustment by her,” Schneider said of Pankow’s at-bat. “She is such a good hitter and finds ways to make hard contact.”
Ozark tied the game in the fourth inning on an RBI single through the right side from Kendall McCoy. A Joplin fielding error later in the frame with two outs allowed the inning to continue, with Natalie Morgan doubling home two go-ahead runs in the next at-bat and Courtney Merrell singling through the right side two batters later to bring home another run and make the score 5-2.
Joplin got a run back in the fifth on an Abby Lowery RBI double to right field before Ozark answered with a three-spot in the sixth inning—highlighted by an RBI double from Morgan and a two-run home run to left-center by Audrey Carlton, to make the score 8-3. Joplin again scored a run in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by Ava Wolf, but the Tigers put the game out of reach with two more runs in the seventh on a Joplin error and a passed ball.
McCoy earned the win in the circle after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits and seven strikeouts in five innings.
Wolf took the loss after allowing eight runs, five earned, on 11 hits, three walks and two strikeouts in five innings.
“We just have to help out our pitchers (defensively),” Schneider said. “Our walks per game are down. Now, we give up a lot of contact, but if we can find a way to cut down on the errors, we can compete with anybody. Our pitchers have done a great job.”
Morgan doubled three times, drove in three and scored once to lead Ozark. Carlton homered on the way to two hits, three RBI and a run scored.
Bailey Ledford had four hits and scored two runs to lead Joplin, while Lowery doubled on the way to two hits and two RBI. Pankow had two hits and drove in two, and Riley Kelly tripled and scored a run.
Joplin hosts Seneca on Monday.
