From staff reports

sports@joplinglobe.com

Joplin’s bats came to life in the last three innings, but the Eagles’ comeback fell short as Nixa held on for a 7-6 victory Tuesday afternoon at the Joplin High School baseball field.

Nixa scored in four of the first five innings and owned a 7-0 lead after 41/2 innings.

The Eagles, hitless through four innings, tallied three runs in the fifth on a solo home run by Shayne Hoke, run-scoring double by Dane Kolkmeyer and RBI groundout by Travis Kunce.

Joplin pulled within 7-6 in the seventh on Kunce’s solo home run and Taylor Byrd’s two-run triple with one out. But Nixa retired the next two hitters on a called third strike and a ground ball to third.

Five of the Eagles’ seven hits went for extra bases. Byrd had a single in addition to his triple, and Barrett Noirfalise had a double.

Joplin (0-2) heads to Oklahoma for the Tiger-Trojan Classic, hosted by Jenks and Broken Arrow. The Eagles play Sand Springs at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Jenks, and they have games Friday in Broken Arrow against Tulsa Memorial at 5 and Broken Arrow at 7:30.

On Saturday the Eagles play host Jenks at noon, and a final game on Saturday will be determined by standings from the two pools.

McAuley 11,

College Heights 7

Jerome Davis drove in four runs as McAuley Catholic tripped College Heights Christian School at Joe Becker Stadium for its first victory of the season.

Davis hit a two-run triple in the first inning and a two-run single in the second as the Warriors (1-2) grabbed a 6-0 lead.

Jordan Miller had three RBI for College Heights (0-3) with a two-run double in the second and run-scoring single in the fourth.

The Cougars have another home game at 6 p.m. Thursday against Northeast Vernon County.