The Cardinals needed nine innings on a cool blustery afternoon to take down the Wolverines of Bentonville West 11-5 to claim their first win of the 2024 season.

Tied 5-5 at the end of the seventh, Webb City exploded for 6 runs in the top of the ninth.  

Trailing 2-0, the Cardinals scored their first run of the season when a Wolverine balk sent Shadrach Salazar home in the fourth inning.  He had reached on a two-out error and advanced to third on a double by Christian Brock.

Webb City took a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth when Sam Weller lifted a high fly ball to right field that carried beyond the fence for a three run blast, scoring courtesy runner Andrew Elwell and Andrew Young.  

The Wolverines were able to tie it back up in the bottom of the fifth and both teams scored once in the sixth leaving the game at a 5-5 deadlock.

The Cardinals left two runners on in the seventh with out scoring and the Wolverines squandered their scoring chance in the eighth, lining into an ending inning double play.

In the ninth, Andrew Young led off with a single and moved up to second on a single from Shaun Hunt.  Drew Vonder Haar drove in the first run of the inning with a double to the left field wall.  Salazar was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Christian Brock drove in the second with a RBI fielder choice ground ball.  Hunter Shull drove in run number three with a single to left and walk to Mason Williams loaded the bases once again.  Cohen Epler completed the scoring with a bases clearing double down the left field line.  

The Cardinals pounded out 12 hits on the day with Andrew Young, Shaun Hunt, Drew Vonder Haar and Christian Brock each collecting two.  Sam Weller and Cohen Epler each drove in 3 runs.  

Landon Fletcher started on the mound going 4.2, allowing four runs and striking out six.  Payton Marshall earned the win pitching the final 3 and 2/3, only giving up one hit while striking out two.

Webb City will face Branson on Tuesday in their home opener.