To say the Neosho Nighthawks set the tone early in Wednesday’s night game would be quite an understatement.

Neosho pounded out eight hits and scored eight runs to help spark the team to a fast start against the Carl Junction Post 781 squad in an elimination game.

Neosho would use the fast start and build on the lead throughout the game to pull out a 20-6 victory to end the season for Carl Junction, and keep its own season alive another day in the American Legion District 15 tournament.

Neosho, the No. 1 seed, will turn its attention to Cassville in another elimination starting at 5 p.m. tonight at McDonald County High School. The No. 6 seeded Cassville Post 118 fell to Carthage 13-6 in the winner’s bracket final Wednesday.

The winner of the Cassville-Neosho game will play again Thursday night against Carthage.

If the Merchants win, they are the district champs. If they lose, a winner-take-all game will be played Friday.

Neosho (25-12) had to win its second straight game in the tournament Wednesday, and did so with plenty of hits against a pitching-thin Carl Junction squad.

Four of the first five batters reached base safely for Neosho against starter Jared Forker.

Carter Marion hit a double off the top of the fence to lead off the game. He would score right away as Ty Anderson singled him home. Anderson would then score on Tanner Pogue’s double.

With one out, Alex Wise hit a two-run double. Austin Paul hit a sacrifice fly to score Wise, but it was the second out of the inning. Neosho loaded the bases with a single from Anthony Westfield, a double by Koty Dowell and a walk to Chris Bevis. Marion, batting for the second time, hit an RBI single. Anderson then followed with a two-run single to make it 8-0.

That chased Forker out of the game.

Carl Junction (18-20) scored its first run in the bottom of the second inning when a dropped fly ball allowed Logan Deem to score, making it 8-1.

The Nighthawks then rattled the bats to the tune of 12 straight runs and grabbed a commanding 20-1 lead entering the seventh inning of the game — which ended early on the 10-run rule.

Anderson drove in his fourth run of the game on a groundout in the top of the third inning, while an error led to another run, making it 10-1 in favor of Neosho.

Two more runs were scored in the top of the fourth inning to make it 12-1. Wise was hit by a pitch and went to second base on a passed ball. Paul reached on a fielder’s choice, as Carl Junction threw back to second base, but Wise was safe.

Wise went to third base on a deep fly ball and scored on Dowell’s sacrifice fly. With two outs, Marion hit an RBI single to make it 12-1.

The runs continued to pile up for Neosho. In the fifth inning, Neosho scored three runs. Pogue singled, stole second base and scored the first run on a passed ball.

Dickens and Wise were  hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats and both scored on an error made on a screamer hit by Chase Barnes.

Barnes delivered a home run in the top of the sixth inning to score Wise and Dickens, who both walked. Earlier in the inning, Marion singled, went to third on Scott Wilson’s single, and scored on Pogue’s groundout.

The Nighthawks scored their 20th and final run in the top of the seventh inning. Pogue got a two-out single and scored when pinch hitter Dallas Randen hit an RBI double to deep center field.

Post 781 tacked on four runs in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final margin. Deem had a two-run double for Carl Junction, while Seth Spencer and Nathan Eddy had RBI singles.

Lewis threw seven innings, giving up six runs — five earned — and struck out seven.

“Scooter did a great job and we needed him to go long,” said Neosho coach Eddie Crupper. “Carl Junction is the No. 2 seed for a reason, but obviously they don’t have (Zak) Porath. They are a tough team.

“The big thing was we didn’t have to go into our bullpen. Scooter couldn’t have thrown all nine innings.”

Crupper noted one of the highlights was the addition of Barnes back to the hitting portion of the lineup.

“He was just cleared by the doctors and maybe Chase can fill a void we have. Those were two of the hardest hit balls I’ve seen all year.”

The void that Crupper was talking about was created by an injury to Drew Miller. The power-hitting third baseman was injured at his job during the day Wednesday and had to have numerous stitches to close a wound on his ankle and prevented him from playing. Crupper didn’t know how long Miller, who pitched in Tuesday night’s win against Webb City, would be out.

Despite Miller’s absence, Neosho had nine different players get a hit in the game against Carl Junction. Marion led the way with four hits, including a double and three singles.

Pogue had a double and two singles.

Anderson led the way with 4 RBI. Barnes drove in three runs, while Wise and Marion each had 2 RBI.