WEBB CITY, Mo. —
Kaitlin Beason and Alexah Replogle hit back-to-back home runs in a six-run fifth inning Tuesday as Webb City broke open a close game and defeated Neosho 9-3.
The victory was Webb City’s ninth in 10 games this season and improved its record to 2-0 in the Central Ozark Conference Large Division.
“These girls are capable of putting a lot of hits together,” Cardinals head coach Walter Resa said. “It was nice to get a couple of runs early.”
Leading 3-1 in the fifth, Webb City’s Callie Beaver and Morgan Coleman singled before Beason, a freshman, launched the first home run of her career over the fence in left-center field.
Replogle followed with a drive that cleared the fence in center field, her third home run of the season, and gave Webb City 7-1 lead. The Cardinals added two more runs in the inning on one-out, back-to-back singles by Laney Knieb and Lexie Gardner, a wild pitch, and an RBI single by pinch hitter Lacy Resa.
The Cardinals played error-free defensively behind starting pitcher Knieb and two relief pitchers.
“Our defense is supporting our pitchers,” Resa said. “Our pitchers will give up hits, but our defense is solid. It’s a sign of a team growing.”
Five freshmen played in the game for the Cardinals.
Neosho threatened but did not score in the first two innings. Morgan Rathmann and Ashley Gilion each walked to start the top of the first inning but were left stranded at second and third base.
In the second, Neosho third baseman Sami LaRose had a two-out single and second baseman Jordan Scott was hit by a pitch, but Knieb got out of the inning when Rathmann popped out to Gilion at short.
Meanwhile, Webb City took a 2-0 lead in the first. Beaver reached on an error, Coleman singled and Beason advanced the runners with a sacrifice. Replogle drove in a run and reached base on a fielder’s choice.
The Cardinals then executed a delayed double steal before Chelsea Smith followed with a sacrifice fly to right field that turned into the defensive play of the game for Neosho.
Right fielder Shea Wyatt made the catch and threw to third baseman LaRose, who bobbled the ball, then threw home to catcher Catie Cummins, who completed the double play by tagging out Replogle trying to score.
Neosho cut the lead to 2-1 in the third inning on a home run by first baseman Brooke Hulsey to left-center field.
Webb City added a run in the fourth inning on a leadoff single by Knieb, who advanced to third on two groundballs and scored on a wild pitch. Neosho scored twice in the seventh inning on bases-loaded walks to Wyatt and Brittany Copeland.
Webb City is scheduled to play at 5 p.m. Thursday at Carthage, while Neosho, 5-5 and 1-1, travels to Ozark.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Webb City’s Laney Kneib delivers a pitch during the game against Neosho. Globe/Gary Jeffries
Discussion
Homers help Cards romp
- Sports
-
-
Colgan's Cichon wins No. 500
The 500-win plateau is an achievement that does not come without some winning formula.
-
Prep Roundup: Joplin's Wood breaks school record
Joplin’s Madi Wood broke a school record, Michelle Barchak and Genny Richards posted the fastest qualifying times Friday during preliminaries of the Southwest Missouri Championships at the Natatorium.
-
Hester, Lions prep for Emporia State
Patrick Hester, one of Missouri Southern’s best free-throw shooters, stepped to the line Wednesday night with 13.5 seconds left in the second overtime, looking to push the Lions’ three-point lead to a two-possession game.
-
MSSU's Gibson sets career highs in consecutive games
In Missouri Southern’s first 20 games this season, guard Larrita Gipson scored in double figures once — 10 points on Jan. 21 at Truman State.
-
PSU women seek record-tying 22nd win
Among Pittsburg State’s four football national championships, three came during seasons that ended in the number 1 — 1961, 1991 and 2011.
-
Kickapoo girls race past Joplin
Annie Armstrong poured in 21 points to lead the Kickapoo girls to a 65-28 victory over Joplin on Thursday night in an Ozark Conference basketball game at Missouri Southern’s Young Gymnasium.
-
Hillsdale women stop OCC
Visiting Hillsdale Free Will Baptist handed Ozark Christian a 68-47 loss in women’s college basketball on Thursday night.
-
Quapaw completes 12-0 run through Lucky '7' Conference
Quapaw High School girls basketball coach Rod Graves expected the 2011-12 Wildcats to compile another successful season.
They haven’t been a disappointment. -
Pitching holds key for softball Lions
Pitching is the main question Missouri Southern must answer as the Lions open their softball season today in Abilene, Texas.
-
NCAA denies UConn waiver request
The NCAA has turned down the University of Connecticut’s request for a waiver that would allow its men’s basketball team to play in the 2013 national championship tournament.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
