Neosho took advantage of several Joplin miscues to build an early lead and added on insurance in four of the last five innings while holding off the Eagles for a 9-8 win in Central Ozark Conference action on Tuesday at the JHS Athletic Complex.
Joplin (20-8, 4-3 COC) committed three errors in the first inning that led to four Neosho runs crossing the plate. The Wildcats (18-4, 5-2 COC) ultimately built an 8-0 lead midway through the fifth inning before the Eagles answered with five runs in the last of the fifth frame and three more runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to one run. Joplin got the tying run on base in the seventh before the Wildcats closed the door on the win.
“This was a big win,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “We knew this was going to be a tough game. I was really pleased with scoring early and often. We kind of relish being the visiting team because we like to score first. We get a little bit of a cushion and it makes the game feel a lot more in control. It felt like we lost control there for a second, but we never actually lost the lead. … Our hitters, that was the best bunting I’ve ever seen from a team that I’ve coached. That was the difference in the game.”
“You can’t give up those runs in the first inning, obviously,” Joplin coach Brenden Schneider said. “The errors hurt us. I think we had five or six today. That is tough to deal with. Even with that, we were still in a position to win at the end. That is a credit to this group because they have no quit and refuse to go away. These girls do such a good job of just finding a way.”
IN THE CIRCLE
Olivia Emery earned the win and the save for Neosho after starting and allowing four runs, three earned, over 5 1/3 innings on nine hits, a walk and four strikeouts before leaving and re-entering to get the final three outs in the seventh inning.
“Olivia did a good job,” Cummins said. “She doesn’t pitch like a freshman. She pitches like a veteran. She doesn’t let a whole lot flap her.”
Jill McDaniel took the loss for Joplin after allowing nine runs, four earned, on nine hits, four walks and nine strikeouts over seven innings of work.
GAME ACTION
Neosho started fast, pushing across four runs in the top of the first inning to take control of the contest. Autumn Kinnaird led off the inning with a single before coming around to score on a throwing error two batters later for the first run of the inning. Two more runs came home on errors by the Eagles before a fourth run scored on a wild pitch.
“It sets the tone,” Cummins said of the four-run first inning. “And that is what we want to do. Set the tone early, let (the other team) know we are here, we are going to score runs and do it often. We did that today.”
Neosho added insurance to the lead with an RBI groundout from McKaylie Forrest in the third inning before Beclynn Garrett added a two-out RBI single through the left side in the fourth inning to give the Wildcats a 6-0 advantage.
The Wildcats made it three straight innings with a run touching the plate as in the fifth inning. Carleigh Kinnaird reached on a dropped third strike before Forrest bunted and reached when the throw from third sailed up the right field line, allowing Kinnaird to score in the process. Grace Johnson added an RBI on a sac bunt later in the frame to make the score to 8-0.
“When we score like that, everybody has confidence at the plate and they all think they are going to get on base no matter what I ask them to do,” Cummins said. “That translated. If you score runs in five innings, you should win that game.”
Joplin got on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bailey Ledford hit a ball down the left field line that got into the corner with a runner on for a two-run inside-the-park home run. Abby Lowery followed with an old-fashioned long ball, ripping a line drive over the wall in center field for a solo home run to cut the lead to five, 8-3. A fourth run came home in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch before a sac fly from Kirsten McMillen with one out trimmed the Eagles’ deficit to 8-5.
“The amount of momentum that swung in that inning was huge,” Schneider said of his team’s ability to climb back from an eight-run deficit. “All this team needs is a little spark and they can build a really big fire. … That is a credit to our dugout as well because they are always active and involved in the game. They pick each other up perfectly and you couldn’t ask for a better group.”
Neosho got a run back in the top of the sixth, scoring in the fourth straight inning, when Forrest singled to center with a runner in scoring position for a 9-5 lead.
“That was the storyline of the game for us,” Schneider said. “We just weren’t able to get it done on the defensive side. We were making errors and giving up runs, or they were making it happen—however you want to say it.”
Lowery came through again for the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth inning, lining a double to left-center to drive home a pair of runs to cut the lead to 9-7. A third run came home on a ground ball off the bat of Riley Kelly to trim the lead to one.
“Abby has been a heck of a player for us all year,” Schneider said. “She is a heck of a kid and does a great job. I think a big reason for that is that she has fun and she is a very smart hitter. She communicates and asks good questions. That is what you want to see from a sophomore center fielder. We are very blessed that we get to have her for two more years, and she is going to have a fantastic career if she continues to progress the way she is.”
AT THE PLATE
Beclynn Garrett led Neosho with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, while Forrest had a hit, two RBI and scored a run. Carleigh Kinnaird and Grace Johnson also recorded hits and scored a run each.
Ledford, Lowery and Jadyn Pankow each had two hits for Joplin. Lowery, who doubled and homered, led the team with three RBI and scored twice, while Ledford, who also homered, had two runs scored and drove in two. Kelly also had a hit, scored a run and finished with an RBI.
ON DECK
Neosho hosts Willard on Wednesday.
Joplin hosts Nixa on Thursday.
