NIXA, Mo. — Nixa broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the third inning before pulling away late for a 9-2 win over Joplin on Thursday.
Nixa’s Katie Faulk doubled home Dakota Hale and Morgan Delloma in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead over Joplin (3-9).
Joplin cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth when Liz Snider brought home Bailey Ledford on a sacrifice bunt to make the score 2-1.
Nixa (6-4) pushed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Maddy Meierer drew a bases-loaded walk. After Phoebe Gardner touched home, Nixa’s Maya Herman followed with a single to left to score Marah Griffen to extend the lead to 5-1.
Joplin’s Tatum Stogsdill trimmed the lead to 5-2 with an RBI single in the top of the sixth, but Nixa pulled away with four runs in the bottom of the inning with RBI doubles from Gardner and Herman, as well as a two-run double from Meierer.
Meierer earned the win in the circle after allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits, one walk and eight strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
Jill McDaniel took the loss after allowing seven runs, four earned, on 14 hits, three walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Faulk led Nixa with three hits, including two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored. Meierer had one hit, two walks and three RBI, while Herman had three hits and two RBI. Gardner and Hale each tallied two hits.
Izzy Yust led Joplin with two hits and a run scored. Snider and Stogsdill each had a hit and an RBI.
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Joplin takes part in the Branson Lady Pirate Invitational over the weekend.
