Webb City got back to .500 overall and improved to 5-3 in the Central Ozark Conference with a 4-3 win over the Branson Pirates on Thursday. 

The Cardinals (13-13) pushed across two runs in the first inning. The first run came home after two Branson errors before Madeline Barchak delivered an RBI single into left.

In the top of the fourth, Brooklyn Davis smacked an RBI double into right-center to cut Webb City's lead in half. 

The Cardinals added two runs in the bottom of the fourth. A wild pitch and an error on the same play allowed both Addison Brown and Rylynn McFarland to score, giving the hosts a 4-1 lead.

The Pirates plated two runs in the fifth, trimming the Cardinals' advantage to one. 

However, the Cardinals kept the visitors off the scoreboard in the sixth and seventh innings to secure a win. 

Alex Maturino went 2-for-3 for the Cardinals. Dawsyn Decker, Sydney Strickland, McFarland and Barchak had one hit apiece.

Webb City's Laney Taylor was the winning pitcher. She went six innings and allowed three earned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. Karsyn Cahoon closed it out by pitching a scoreless seventh. 

The Cardinals did not commit an error in the field. 

Branson's Sierra Dailey took the loss. She allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks. 

Savi Engel had two hits for the Pirates (9-12, 0-8 COC). 

The Cardinals will compete at this weekend's Springfield Tournament. 

Webb City has two home games next week, as the Cardinals host McDonald County on Monday and Joplin on Tuesday.