BRANSON, Mo. — After a 2-0 record in pool play, Neosho finished off the Branson Lady Pirate Invitational with three more wins on Saturday to cap the weekend with a first-place showing.
POOL PLAY ROUNDUP
In pool play on Friday, Neosho (14-3) earned a 6-0 win over Glendale and a 14-0 win against Aurora to qualify as the top seed in Pool C.
A five-run second inning was the catalyst for Neosho in the win over the Falcons to open the tournament. Carleigh Kinnaird earned the win in the circle after pitching five scoreless innings on two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Beclynn Garrett had one hit and a team-high three RBI at the plate, while Abbie Carpenter added a hit and an RBI.
The Wildcats scored eight runs in the second inning against Aurora, another in the third and five runs in the fifth to cap the four-inning win. Chloe Patterson earned the win with five shutout innings on one hit, one walk and eight strikeouts.
CHAMPIONSHIP DAY ROUNDUP
Neosho opened the second day with a 13-0 win over Joplin in three innings, fueled by an 11-run second inning, before beating host Branson 9-0 in the Wildcats’ second game of the day. Neosho ended the day with a 2-1 win over West Plains.
Olivia Emery earned the win in the circle against the Eagles after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out three. Beclynn Garrett had three hits, including a double and a triple, a team-high four RBI and two runs scored to lead NHS at the plate. Maelynn Garrett also had a double, three RBI and two runs scored.
Jill McDaniel took the loss for Joplin after allowing eight runs, six earned, on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts in one inning. Bailey Ledford had two hits, including a triple, while Jadyn Pankow also registered a hit.
Neosho scored four runs in the first inning against the Pirates in Game 2 before adding two runs in the second and third frames to highlight the day offensively. Carleigh Kinnaird earned the win after five scoreless innings, two hits allowed and six strikeouts. Autumn Kinnaird had two hits, including a double, an RBI and team-high three runs scored. Beclynn Garrett had a hit, team-high three RBI and scored a run. Grace Johnson had two hits, including a double, two RBI and a run scored. McKaylie Forrest also had two hits and an RBI.
Neosho scored two runs in the first inning against West Plains and Patterson earned the win after holding the Zizzers to one run on two hits and six strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Carpenter had two hits for Neosho, while Carleigh Kinnaird had a two-run single with two outs in the first inning to fuel the Wildcats’ offense in the win.
Neosho is at Webb City on Tuesday.
