CARTHAGE, Mo. —
Jensyn Elder's triple scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning as Carthage rallied past Joplin 5-4 Tuesday afternoon in a Central Ozark Conference softball game at the Fair Acres YMCA Complex.
Elder's hit capped a nail-biting seventh inning that saw Joplin score twice in the top of the frame to take a one-run lead.
Madisyn Tracy beat out an infield hit to start the Joplin seventh and moved to second on Tatum Stogsdill's groundout to second. Reece Schroer reached on a dropped third strike as Tracy advanced to third. After Schroer moved to second base without a play, Abby McGinnis grounded out to first as Tracy scored the tying run. Ryleigh Sullidge followed with a single to center field to give the Eagles a 4-3 lead.
Landry Cochran doubled to center — her second double of the game — leading off the Carthage seventh, and
Katie Crowe's sacrifice bunt advanced Cochran to third.
Presley Probert lined out to second baseman Sullidge for the second out, but
Lauren Haws came through on a 1-2 pitch with a single to right to score Cochran and tie the game. Elder then rapped a triple to center to score Haws with the winning run.
Elder also was the winning pitcher, giving up seven hits and one earned run while striking out five batters and walking none.
Jill McDaniel was the losing pitcher, allowing nine hits and four earned runs with six strikeouts and one walk.
Stogsdill had two hits for the Eagles (3-8, 1-2 COC), and Cochran and
Ashlynn Jackson both had two hits for the Tigers (8-6, 2-1).
Jackson singled with two outs in the third and scored on Cochran's double to right to give Carthage a 1-0 lead.
Bailey Ledford and McDaniel singled to begin the Joplin fourth, putting runners at first and third. Ledford scored on a passed ball, and McDaniel came home on Stogsdill's single to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning on a walk and a triple by
Mary Grace Richmond and single by
Jordyn Jones that each scored a run to put Carthage ahead 3-2.
Joplin has another road league game Thursday at Nixa. Carthage is idle until Sept. 22 when it plays at Republic.
-Joplin Globe Sports Staff
