NEOSHO 6, WILLARD 2
WILLARD, Mo. — The Neosho High School softball team locked up at least a share of the Central Ozark Conference title by beating Willard 6-2 on Thursday.
Now 7-1 in COC action, the Wildcats scored twice in the third on Kynden Smith’s two-run double.
Neosho added an insurance run in the sixth, as Beclynn Garrett doubled and later scored Addysan Hart’s RBI single.
Willard cut its deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth on Reece Anderson’s run-scoring double.
But Neosho added three runs in the top of the seventh.
Smith delivered a two-run single, with Olivia Emery and Ashlyn Stevens scoring. Garrett’s RBI double to left allowed Smith to score and made it 6-2.
Smith drove in four runs on two hits, while Garrett and Hart contributed two hits apiece.
Neosho’s Carleigh Kinnaird earned the complete-game pitching victory, allowing just one earned run on four hits while striking out 10.
Hannah Burks took the loss after surrendering four earned runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. DeLaney Dixon allowed one run in 2/3 of an inning for the Tigers, who fell to 6-2 in the COC.
Neosho (22-5) hosts McDonald County on Friday.
WEBB CITY 5, BRANSON 2
BRANSON, Mo. — A three-run second inning gave the visiting Webb City Cardinals the lead for good in a Central Ozark Conference contest with the Branson Pirates on Thursday.
With the win, Webb City improved to 18-8 overall and 4-4 in the COC.
Webb City scored once in the first inning, as leadoff batter Abby Sargent singled, stole second, took third on a passed ball and came home when the Pirates threw to first after a dropped third strike.
Jerzi Yacko’s RBI double to left tied the game in the bottom of the first, but Webb City pushed across three runs in the second on Sargent’s two-run single and a Branson error.
The Cardinals added a single tally in the third on Rilley Hanes’ sacrifice fly, with Jensyn Pickett scoring for a 5-1 lead.
The Pirates got a run back in the bottom of the third, and neither team scored the rest of the way.
A freshman shortstop, Sargent had three hits and two RBI for the Cardinals.
Webb City freshman right-hander Addie Burns earned the complete game victory. She gave up just two runs on four hits and struck out four.
Branson sophomore southpaw Kaleah Morrison took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits.
The Pirates fell to 10-12 and 2-5 in the conference.
Webb City will compete at the Springfield Tournament on Friday and Saturday.
OZARK 10, CARL JUNCTION 0
OZARK, Mo. — Carl Junction stayed within striking distance for the most of the game, as the visitors only trailed 2-0 after five innings.
But Ozark erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to end the game early.
Ozark’s Kendall McCoy earned the pitching victory, limiting the Bulldogs to one hit while striking out nine.
Kiley Spencer took the loss after allowing nine earned runs on 10 hits.
Madi Olds had Carl Junction’s lone hit.
Audrey Carlton hit a grand slam for the Tigers (17-10, 4-4 COC).
Carl Junction (7-13, 1-7 COC) is at this weekend’s Springfield Tournament.
REPUBLIC 8, CARTHAGE 7
REPUBLIC, Mo. — Republic broke a 2-2 tie with a five-run third inning and held off Carthage for a Central Ozark Conference win on Thursday.
Republic jumped in front 7-2 after the third inning before Carthage scored twice in the fourth inning and three more times in the fifth to tie the game at 7-all. Republic answered in the bottom of the fifth with a run crossing on a sacrifice fly from Alison Poulson to push the go-ahead run across.
Kara Goeke earned the win in relief after pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings on two hits and two strikeouts. Piper Dishman started and allowed seven runs, one earned, on six hits, two walks and four strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
Addie Wallace took the loss after allowing eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits, two walks and two strikeouts in four innings.
Lilli Richerson homered on the way to two hits, two RBI and a run scored for Republic, while Gracie Woods doubled and drove in three with a run scored.
Shelby Hegwer doubled, drove in one and scored a run for Carthage. Emmy Stark doubled and picked up an RBI.
Carthage (14-12, 5-3 COC) hosts Neosho on Tuesday.
NIXA 11, JOPLIN 1 (5 INNINGS)
NIXA, Mo. — Nixa built an early lead and never looked back in a Central Ozark Conference win over Joplin on Thursday.
Nixa tallied three runs in the first and second innings to jump in front before both teams traded single tallies in the third frame. Nixa put the finishing touches on the five-inning win with a four-run fourth inning to push the lead to 10.
Paige Garetson earned the win after allowing one run on five hits and two strikeouts in five innings of work.
Ava Wolf took the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on four hits, two walks and two strikeouts in two innings.
Rylee Harper had three hits, four RBI and scored a run, while Brienne Chilton homered, drove in to and scored a run for Nixa.
Abby Lowery homered to finish with one RBI and a run scored, while Wolf had two hits at the plate to lead Joplin.
Joplin (13-12, 3-5 COC) is at Glendale on Monday.
