Webb City opened their 2016 season with a win over the visiting Bentonville Tigers on a blustery Friday afternoon.  With the cold north wind, hitting was a struggle for both teams but the Cardinals made the most of their opportunities to claim the victory.

The Cardinals used single runs in the first and third innings to lead the Tigers 2-0 after three.

Andrew Greek scored the first run of the season when scored on a wild pitch in the first.  Channing Mickey launched a solo home run deep to left for the second run.

Bentonville took advantage of two Cardinal errors to score three times in the top of the fourth, but Webb City tied the game with a single run in the bottom of the fifth.  Mickey was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and courtsey runner Jonas White advanced to third when the Tigers misplayed a sacrifice bunt from Drew Roy.  White later scored on a two out wild pitch.

Pitcher Calem Nutting was able to escape trouble in the top of the sixth when the Tigers loaded the bases on three consecutive singles with no one out.  He got a strike out and two infield outs to keep the game knotted at 3-3.

The Cardinals scored three times in the sixth to take the lead without a hit and two Tiger fielding errors.  Will Larson and Greek opened the inning with walks and advanced to second and third on Dack Sanborn ground out.  Nutting then lofted a fly ball to left that was dropped allowing Larson to score and Nutting moved up to second.  Mickey hit a ground ball to short and as he was thrown out, Greek broke for home and scored as the throw from the Bentonville first baseman was wild at home plate.  Nutting also scored on the play as the ball bounced around behind home plate.  

Bentonville did not go quietly in the seventh.  Tanner Lane took over pitching duties and gave up a hit to the first batter of the inning and back to back fielding errors loaded the bases with no outs.   Lane then got another ground ball that the Cardinal infield was able to turn it into a double play.  Even though a run scored, the game ended with a strike out.

Nutting picked up the win, scattering four hits and striking out seven.  Lane earned the save.

The Cardinals will be back at home on Saturday for a noon game.