The Cardinals suffered their first conference loss dropping a 5-2 decision at home to Nixa.

Fresh off of a loss at Willard, the Eagles scored two quick runs to grab the early advantage.  Starter Landon Fletcher hit the first batter of the game but retired the next two hitters.  However, the number four and five batters delivered run scoring hits before the inning closed.

The Cardinals threatened in the bottom half of the first, but were unable to score as they left runners stranded at the corners.  Webb City did cut the Nixa lead in half in their bottom of the third when Sam Weller coaxed a lead off walk, advancing to second on an Eagle error and onto third on a fly out.  A ground out off the bat of Mason Williams allowed Weller to score.  

Fletcher and Nixa pitcher Colin Kelley both settled in and held the offenses in check for the next few innings.  Nixa got an insurance run in the sixth on a two out double and a single, while the Cardinals left runners stranded in both the fourth and sixth.

Nixa added the final tallies in the top of the seventh after two were out with three singles and walk plating two more runs.

Webb City did not go down easy.  A two out rally was started with a triple off the bat of Andrew Young.  After being down in the count 0-2, Mason Williams worked the count back to even and then stroked a double into right center to score Young.  After a visit to the mound, Kelley was able to secure the final out.

Williams had two of the Cardinals five hits and drove in both runs.  Along with the triple from Young, Christian Brock and Shadrach Salazar each recorded the other base hits.

Fletcher was tagged for his first loss in four decisions.  After the rough start, he worked innings 2-3-4-5 only two batters over the minimum, setting the Eagles down in order in both the third and fifth.  

The Cardinals now 14-4 (4-1) will travel to Kansas City on Saturday for two games, as they take on host Oak Park and Grain Valley.

Watch game highlights below