NEOSHO, Mo. — Carthage used an impressive start from Jensyn Elder and two-out magic with the bats to earn a 3-1 win over Neosho on Wednesday.
The Tigers (14-9) and Wildcats (14-7) were scoreless through two innings before Carthage's offense struck twice in the third before adding another run in the fifth to build a 3-0 lead. Neosho manufactured a run in the last of the sixth but never got any closer before the final out was made.
"We have talked about hanging in there and peaking at the right time," Carthage coach Stephanie Ray said. "We try to come out every day and just try to do our jobs when we get runners on. We just try to put the ball in play and move the runners on. That has been our philosophy for the last couple of weeks, now."
"I thought we came out a little flat today," Neosho coach Catie Cummins said. "When you're playing conference teams in one of the best conferences in the state, you can't come out flat and expect to win. … Scoring one run against that good of a team coming off a big win the night before is just not going to be enough."
A night after earning a complete-game win against Webb City, Elder again went the distance for the Tigers. She scattered two hits and walked two, with six strikeouts, in seven innings.
"This is her third year throwing and competing for us," Ray said. "She has a lot of starts under her belt. She is a workhorse. … She is tough to beat because she works hard and competes every day."
Brittany Winchester was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on eight hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
"Every time we came off the field, I kept telling them that Brittany was keeping us in it," Cummins said. "The defense was keeping us in it. But, there are three (phases of the game). We didn't hit well enough to win. I thought Brittany did a real good job. Her changeup looked great, and it's the best it's looked since Week 2 or 3 of the season. So, I am glad she has that back, but our bats have got to pick it up because that has been what's carried us. Right now, we are just in a slump."
Carthage's Kate Potter walked to lead off the top of the third before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Mary Grace Richmond. Landry Cochran singled through the left side before stealing second to put a pair of runners in scoring position. After a groundout, Natalie Rodriguez came through with the first big hit, a two-out single to left field to bring home a run and put the Tigers on top 1-0. Makayla Jennings followed with a line drive to right-center to bring home the second run of the inning with two outs.
"They have been coming up big for us all year long," Ray said. "When we get in that situation with two outs, I am happy to put the bat in their hands and let them drive in runs. That is what they have done all year."
Cochran walked to lead off the top of the fifth before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt from Katie Crowe. Cochran took third on the play after a throwing error to first by the Wildcats. With runners on first and third, the Tigers put Crowe in motion, having her stop midway between first and second to intentionally get caught in a rundown. Neosho catcher McKaylie Forrest ran at Crowe with the out being made on the tag but no one covered home, allowing Cochran to score an insurance run to put Carthage up 3-0.
-Lucas Davis, SOMO-Sports.com