CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — Carleigh Kinnaird was dominant in the circle, while Autumn Kinnaird was a menace at the plate with five hits as the sisters led Neosho to an 11-0 win in five innings over Carl Junction on Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference and district action.
The Wildcats (11-3, 3-0 COC) scored three runs in each of the first two innings to take an early 6-0 lead. Neosho added two runs in the fourth and three in the top of the fifth before Carl Junction (6-9, 0-3 COC) scored its two runs in the bottom of the frame. Neosho finished off the scoring with a pair in the seventh inning.
Carleigh Kinnaird was lifted from the game after four innings with an 11-0 lead, having allowed just one hit while striking out nine without a walk to earn the win. Olivia Emery allowed two runs on two hits and two strikeouts in three relief innings.
Kiley Spencer took the loss for Carl Junction after allowing 11 runs, 10 earned, on 14 hits, a walk and six strikeouts in five innings.
After a pair of singles led to a pair in scoring position, Neosho struck the scoreboard first when Carleigh Kinnaird doubled to right-center to plate both runs for a 2-0 advantage with one out.
A third run came around to score in the first inning on a Carl Junction fielding error.
Neosho continued the scoring in the second inning with RBI singles from Kynden Smith and Beclynn Garrett before Smith came around to score on the back end of a double steal to push the lead to 3-0.
Autumn Kinnaird led off the fourth inning with a double before being brought home by a double from Garrett two batters later for a 7-0 lead by the Wildcats. Carleigh Kinnaird followed with a run-scoring single to center field for an eight-run advantage.
Autumn Kinnaird stayed perfect at the plate in the fifth inning when she smacked a three-run home run to center field, her fourth hit in as many trips to the plate, to balloon Neosho’s cushion to 11-0. Kylie Flewelling and Sadee Depriest reached with singles prior to the long ball.
Carl Junction got to Emery in the fifth inning after loading the bases with one out before Madi Olds singled to center to plate two runs and trim the lead to 11-2.
Avyn Blair drove home a pair of runs for the Wildcats in the seventh to wrap the scoring.
Autumn Kinnaird had five hits—a home run, a double and three singles—scored a team-high four runs and drove in three runs in the leadoff spot for Neosho, which totaled 19 hits in the win. Carleigh Kinnaird doubled and had three hits at the plate to go along with three RBI. Garrett doubled on the way to three hits, two RBI and two runs scored.
Olds led the Bulldogs with a hit and two RBI, while Kinley Spindler had a hit and scored a run. Hannah Cantrell also had a hit.
Neosho is Kickapoo on Wednesday before traveling to Branson on Thursday.
Carl Junction is at Republic on Thursday.
