Winning ugly. Coach Doennig, in post-game comments, stated that sometimes you learn more in the winning of close games than in winning easy contests. The way this game played out, the Cardinals should know a lot more about themselves now.
Webb City grabbed a 2-0 lead in the third inning without recording a hit. Cohen Epler reached on a throwing error with one out and consecutive walks loaded the bases. Shaun Hunt drove in Epler with a sac fly to right for the first run. With runners on the corners, the Cardinals stole a run as Sam Weller broke for second and getting caught in a run down, Andrew Young was able to steal home for run number two.
Neosho took advantage of a bad defensive inning scoring four times in the fourth. After starting pitcher Landon Fletcher had retired the first 10 batters of the game, the next six Wildcats reached base. Four singles surrounded by two Cardinal errors resulted in Neosho taking a 4-2 lead.
Neosho looked to extend the lead in the top of the sixth. A one out double scored one, but the Cardinals closed the door when center fielder Andrew Young corralled a base hit up the middle and threw a dart to catcher Mason Williams to nail a runner trying to score from second and put an end to the inning with the Wildcats leading 5-2.
A Shadrach Salazar double scored Drew Vonder Haar in the bottom of the sixth to close the deficit to 5-3.
The Cardinals were able to take advantage of a pitching change in the bottom of the seventh. Starter Quenton Hughes was lifted after a allowing a one out single to Andrew Young. With the new Wildcat pitcher recording the second out on a ground ball, Hunt was hit by a pitch and back to back singles from Vonder Haar and Christain Brock tied the game at 5.
Neosho scored once in the top of the eighth to set up the Cardinal comeback. Salazar, running hard all the way, found himself at second base after his fly ball was dropped in shallow center field. Pinch hitter Brock Renfro was safe at first when the Wildcats committed their second error of the inning, putting runners on the corners. An intentional walk to Young loaded the bases and Sam Weller coaxed a walk to force in the tying run. Hunt then delivered the game winning rbi with a solid single to center scoring pinch runner Andrew Elwell with the final run.
Vonder Haar finished the day with three hits while Young reached base in all five of his plate appearances with two hits and three walks.
Landon Fletcher worked six innings allowing five runs, all unearned, on seven hits. He struck out nine without issuing a walk. Brett Korth worked the final two innings in relief for the win. He struck out six, allowing only one hit and one run.