By: Lucas Davis
Webb City faced a 6-1 deficit at one point before putting on a furious rally, including a six-run third inning, on the way to a 10-7 win over Carl Junction to open Central Ozark Conference play on Tuesday.
Carl Junction scored three runs in its first two trips to the plate to lead 6-1 before Webb City chipped away with three runs in the bottom of the second to cut the lead to two. The Cardinals rallied all the way back with a six-run third inning—highlighted by a grand slam from Karsyn Cahoon—to go on top for good.
"This has been the story of our season so far," Webb City coach Shauna Friend said. "We've come from behind in our last three games and another one before that. These girls are confident in themselves, which is good to see because we know if we give up a few runs we still know we can come back offensively."
"These girls really wanted it today," Carl Junction coach Zak Petty said. "We've built (the program) up the last couple of years to where we can compete really well, but we're not going to be happy just competing and that's where we're at right now. Webb can swing, but I think we are right there with them. … We really only lost one inning today, so we are going to look at that and move forward with it."
IN THE CIRCLE
Kenzie Wynn earned the win in relief for Webb City, allowing one run on six hits, two walks and six strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Laney Taylor started and took a no-decision after allowing six runs on four hits, five walks and two strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings.
"Kenzie came in and was solid," Friend said. "That's the thing with our pitching staff—we have several quality pitchers. If one is struggling or having a tough day, there is another one ready to come in and get outs. Kenzie did a fantastic job knowing her role as a relief pitcher, coming in and calming things down while getting us in a position to win the game."
Kiley Spencer took the loss after allowing 10 runs, nine earned, on 13 hits and two strikeouts in three innings. Hannah Cole pitched three scoreless relief innings, allowing one hit, striking out one and walking one.
RALLY CAPS
Trailing by five after an inning and a half, the Cardinals cut into the lead once again in the last of the second inning when Rilley Hanes doubled off the third baseman's glove to plate the runner from second and a 6-2 score. Cahoon added a two-run double off the wall in left-center later in the inning to trim the deficit to two, 6-4.
Webb City cut the lead to one in the next at-bat when Alex Maturino singled through the left side to score the runner from second to make the score 6-5. Sidney Strickland followed with a shallow single behind first to plate Maturinto and tie the game at 6s. Cahoon delivered the big blow, coming up clutch once more for the Cardinals after ripping a two-out grand slam to left field to put Webb City on top 10-6. It was Cahoon's first-ever home run.
"I am so excited for her," Friend said. "She has been swinging it really well these last few games and it was just a matter of time for her. It couldn't have come at a better time."
Spencer trimmed the Webb City to 10-7 with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning.
STRONG OUT OF THE GATE
Carl Junction wasted little time with the bats as Hannah Cantrell started the game with a triple to left-center on a 3-2 pitch before Ryleigh Palmer followed with a double off the base of the wall in left-center to bring home Cantrell for a 1-0 advantage. Consecutive walks loaded the bases and after a strikeout, Spencer helped her own cause with a walk to force in a run for a 2-0 lead. Hannah Cole followed with a sacrifice fly to right-center to give the Bulldogs an early three-run cushion.
Webb City cut into the lead with a run coming home in the bottom of the first inning when Abby Sargent, who doubled on a flare past third to lead off the frame, came around to score on a wild pitch.
Kady Hunt got the run back for Carl Junction in the top of the second inning when she singled to center field with runners on first and second with two outs for an RBI and a 4-1 lead. After a Webb City pitching change, Spencer helped herself out even more with a two-run single to shallow left-center to bring home two more runs during the two-out rally for a 6-1 advantage.
"We said we wanted to score first, and we did. We felt really good about it," Petty said of the early offense. "It wasn't there on the other side of it, pitching and defense-wise. It will be there, and it usually is. That is just how it tolls sometimes. Offensively, we know we can stay in it and that is a positive for us."
AT THE PLATE
Sargent had three hits, including a double, and scored three times. Cahoon had a grand slam and a double to finish with a game-high six RBI and a run scored. Brown had two hits and scored a run, with Jensyn Pickett also collecting two hits for the Cardinals.
Hunt had two hits, an RBI and scored a run, while Kinley Spindler had two hits. Spencer had a hit and four RBI, Maddi Olds had a hit and scored three runs.