The first game of the quarterfinal series turned into in a classic as the Cardinals tied the game in the seventh and then walked off the Pirates in the eleventh.

The Pirates looked to take command early as the scored three runs in the top of the first.  Three singles, a double and wild pitch led to the early deficit.  The Cardinals, losing a runner on the base paths, failed to answer in the bottom of the inning. 

The second inning had about a ten minute delay that even involved pulling out the rule book to help everyone come to a conclusion.  Platte County was looking to make a pitching change at the 30 pitch mark that would have left their starter eligible to pitch again on Saturday.  It is the same strategy they have employed all season.  Only one problem, he had actually thrown 31 pitches.  After the relief pitcher took the mound and began his warm up tosses, the Pirate coaching staff learned of their mistake.  Now they wanted to reverse their pitching change decision.  After a lengthy discussion, the umpires allowed the starting pitcher back on the mound without any pitch by the new pitcher to be thrown.  Not everyone was fully in agreement but it the decision stood.

The Cardinals got on the board in the third with singles from Braden Strickland and Andrew Young opened the inning.  Both runners moved up on a fly ball out with Strickland scoring on a Mason Young single.

After the rough first inning, Landon Fletcher settled in on the mound.  At one point he retired 17 consecutive hitters as held the Pirates to only those three runs into the seventh inning.  

Down two in the seventh with two outs and Karsen Myers on first base the Cardinals outlook did not look good.  Braden Strickland drew a walk putting the tying run on base.  With two strikes, Andrew Young pulled a triple down into the right field corner driving both runs knotting the game at three.  A walk to Mason Williams and Brock Renfro being hit by a pitch loaded the bases, but the Pirates secured the final out to send the game to extra innings.

Webb City had chances denied in the extra frames.  In the eighth, Luke Beverlin led off with a double but was left stranded.  In the ninth, Mason Williams singled with Brock Renfro being hit again putting two on with two outs but once again unable to score.  Two more runners were stranded in the tenth.

Meanwhile, Landon Fletcher worked a perfect eighth.  Tate Lewis took over in the ninth, holding the Pirates at bay for the next two innings.  He was relieved in the 11th inning due to pitch count by Chayse Denton who got the final two outs.

The Cardinals finally found a way to get a runner to cross home in the bottom of the eleventh.  Andrew Young singled to right, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch.  Mason Williams and Brock Renfro both walked to load the bases.  Another wild pitch found Young sprinting home to the mobbed by teammates and send the fans home happy.

The Cardinals are one win away from the a trip to the final four.  Leading the best of three series 1-0, Webb City will take on the Pirates again on Saturday morning at 11:00.  If necessary, a third game would follow in the afternoon