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.
Carl Junction rallies
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. — The Bulldogs, erasing a 3-1 deficit, pushed across three runs in the seventh inning to stun Carthage 4-3 in a nonconference baseball game.
Carthage right-hander Kyle Wicklund, who struck out 12, walked Travis Green to open the Carl Junction seventh. Wicklund secured two outs before a swinging bunt was thrown away by Wicklund and Zak Porath followed with a double to tie it.
Jack Luton then singled off the third baseman’s glove to produce the winning tally.
Jake Hale, a junior right-hander, struck out eight in six innings for the Bulldogs (3-1).
TENNIS
Cardinal netters triumph
MOUNT VERNON, Mo. — The Cardinals, opening their season, lost only at No. 1 singles in handling the Mountaineers 8-1.
Mount Vernon’s Brett Jones beat Ryan Miller 8-5 and joined with Dane Schmidly in losing 9-7 to Miller and Caleb Shoemake at No. 1 doubles.
Webb City singles wins came from Shoemake, Randon Coffey, Michael Handley, Wes Herman and Austin Webber. Coffey-Handley and Webber-Lincoln won at doubles.
GOLF
Joplin wins
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Drew Johnson shot a 4-over-par 39 to lead Joplin to a quadrangular win at Parthage Golf Course.
The Eagles shot 164 and Carthage 166 over the front 9. Webb City beat College Heights 177-210 for third.
Other leaders for their respective teams were Carthage’s Ethan Giett (40), Webb City’s Adam Williams (41) and CHC’s Chris Yuhas (45).
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