Perhaps last Tuesday’s game against Joplin was just an anomaly for the Neosho Wildcats baseball team.

For those who recall, the Wildcats led 3-1 before losing 13-3 against Joplin.

On Monday, the two teams met up in the Class 4 District 12 playoffs and Neosho took advantage of its ‘do-over.’

The Wildcats jumped ahead early and then held off a late rally to escape with a 9-7 victory over the No. 4 seeded Joplin squad at Neil Pittman Field.

For the third straight season, the Wildcats advance to the semifinals in the district, this year drawing top-seeded Kickapoo. The game is set for 4:30 p.m. today and the winner will advance to the district final Thursday.

The game was one that was essentially dominated by Neosho, then by Joplin before the Wildcats got enough runs late to hold on.

The key, perhaps, in the two-run victory was a pair of solo home runs by seniors Scott Wilson and Koty Dowell, back-to-back, in the top of the seventh inning.

“This is the one that is definitely the better one to win,” said Neosho coach Eddie Crupper after the victory. “We learned that last year.”

Crupper is referring to the fact that the Wildcats won against Joplin at home last year in the regular season before losing in districts last year.

Things got reversed this time around.

Neosho (9-14) jumped ahead 1-0 then broke up a 1-1 tie with a big third inning.

Dowell and Anthony Westfield both singled with two outs in the top of the second inning off Joplin starter Shayne Hoke. Freshman Alex Wise, making his debut at the plate this year, hit the first pitch he saw to the gap in left center field. The ball bounced over the fence for a ground rule double and Dowell scored.

The Eagles (10-17) came back to tie it in the bottom of the second inning. An error on an attempted double play set up John McDermid’s RBI single to right field, making it 1-1.

Cory Simmons added a two-out double to put runners on second and third base, but Neosho pitcher Scooter Lewis got a strikeout to escape the jam.

Then, Neosho scored three runs to grab command of the game.

Drew Miller hit a solo home run with one out to left field, making it 2-1. Kyle Dickens then walked and his courtesy runner, Lenny Neal, came home when Scott Wilson hit a two-out double to center field.

Wilson, who went to third on the throw home, scored on Dowell’s RBI single, making it 4-1.

In the fourth inning, Joplin turned to Calvin Burr on the mound and Neosho continued to score. Wise doubled in his second at-bat and moved up on Ty Anderson’s bunt single. Miller then delivered a two-run single to make it 6-1. Miller then came home on Dickens’ RBI single, making it 7-1.

From that point, the Eagles turned the tide and made the game very competitive, despite being six runs down.

A three-run fifth inning allowed Joplin to get a bit closer. Dane Kolkmeyer and Travis Kunce each had RBI singles, while Taylor Byrd grounded out to drive in another run.

Down 7-4, Joplin pulled within two runs in the sixth inning. Simmons doubled to left field and scored on Kolkmeyer’s single. Byrd then delivered an RBI single, making it 7-6.

The home runs in the top of the seventh inning gave the Wildcats a 9-6 cushion going into the final inning.

Joplin had the tying run at the plate in the final inning and made it interesting for both fans.

Kunce reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to third base on Jake Brummer’s single. Simmons then came through with an RBI single, making it 9-7.

With two runners on, Lewis got a strikeout to end the game on a pinch hitter to secure the complete game victory.

“We had the right guys at the plate, we just lacked the big hit,” said Joplin coach Kirk Harryman. “They had a couple of big hits that spread the score in the seventh that really changed things. We came out and scored runs and we hit the ball. We just didn’t score enough. They played a little bit better. And in the world of single-elimination in postseason baseball it’s cruel. There has been years it has been real kind. They made more plays than we did.”