WEBB CITY, Mo. — The Neosho Wildcats started out hot with solo home runs from two of their first three hitters, cooled down at the plate with four scoreless innings in a row and fell behind 5-2, and warmed back up with two runs in the sixth, two more in the seventh, and five big ones in the eighth to earn an 11-6 extra-innings victory Tuesday in Central Ozark Conference play against rival Webb City.
Freshman pitcher Olivia Emery earned the win in long relief of sophomore starter Carleigh Kinnaird, freshman Autumn Kinnaird and sophomore Beclynn Garrett hit the early home runs, and seniors Abbie Carpenter and McKaylie Forrest each delivered two-run doubles in the decisive top of the eighth.
Webb City took a 5-2 lead with four runs in the third, all of them scored with two outs as the Cardinals loaded the bases and took advantage of a pair of Neosho defensive miscues.
“We had the two home runs to start the game and get us on the board, then we just didn’t play very clean defense behind Carleigh,” Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. “That’s very frustrating for her. I know that, and I’m frustrated for her because I thought she threw well. We just weren’t playing defense behind her. Fortunately, we were able to find the bats late in the game and took care of business.
“Olivia came in and did a great job, but I want to give a shout-out for Carleigh because it’s a hard place to be, to feel like you’ve let down your team and go out to right field. She cheered on her teammates the whole time and she did well at the plate. She deserves that kudos, and it’s a whole team win.
“We sub in courtesy runners and pinch runners, and Trinity Drake comes in off the bench with a big hit to get us going (in the sixth). That’s a hard spot to be in, too, because you’re sitting hoping your name’s going to be called and then it is, and you’ve got to go out there and hit the ball. She did, and I’m super proud of her. I know the statline is going to say that she has a single and that’s it, but that got us back in the game headed into the seventh.”
The Cardinals were two outs away from a 6-5 loss when freshman third baseman Kylee Sargent hit a solo home run to center to force extra innings.
That proved to be the only run Webb City scored against Emery, who came in to earn the final out in Webb City’s four-run third and kept the Cardinals within reach for Neosho’s potent bats.
In the Neosho eighth, Bailey Bowers and Amber Kinnaird worked walks and Garrett reached on a fielder’s choice that forced out Kinnaird at second, and then came the big hits.
Carpenter hit the game-tying double to left in the seventh and she hit a very similar ball to almost the same exact spot, scoring Bowers and Garrett with a double.
Two batters later, Forrest hit her two-run double scoring Carpenter and Carleigh Kinnaird, then Emery made it a five-run lead for the Wildcats on an RBI double.
Neosho retired Webb City in order in the bottom of the eighth with shortstop Garrett ending it on a sensational diving catch barely into the outfield grass.
Emery and Carleigh Kinnaird combined to strike out 12 Cardinals in the contest balanced against just one walk, and the Wildcats made the defensive plays (including a pair of Webb City runners thrown out by Forrest late in the game, one at second and one at first) and delivered plenty of big hits to improve to 15-3 overall and 3-1 COC with a nine-game winning streak headed into Wednesday’s non-conference game on the road against Monett.
“We’ve got to take care of business at Monett and then go take care of business (Thursday) at Ozark,” Cummins said. “It’s a COC game, but it’s also a district opponent. It’s a big game for us to go win and it would set us up for a better district seed and potentially a good finish in the COC. Overall, I’m happy that we fought back (Tuesday) and I’m going to sleep a lot better tonight … about the fifth inning, I was getting a little stressed.”
Liz Rhuems went 3-for-4 for the Cardinals, while Alex Maturino drove in two runs. Laney Taylor was charged with the loss.
Webb City dropped to 9-9 overall and 3-2 COC entering Thursday’s road contest against Republic (12-6).
