The Webb City softball team, two days after falling in the championship game of the Joplin Tournament, again picked up their winning ways Monday.
Playing at Patriot Field in Granby, the Lady Cardinals won 16-4 over East Newton.
Webb City set the tone early thanks to an eight-run first inning and after fending off a rally in the middle innings, ended the game in the sixth inning on the run-rule.
“The first inning we swung the bats well, hit the ball and I think we put some pressure on East Newton,” Webb City coach Walter Resa said.
Webb City pounded out seven hits, drew two walks and reached on an error in the first inning alone. Four batters into the game, Webb City was up 3-0 after an RBI single by Kaitlin Beason and a two-run homer by Alexia Replogle.
Later in the frame, Shelby Stuck hit a two-run double, before Morgan Coleman and Beason — in her second at-bat of the inning — hit RBI singles to cap the scoring.
Beason, who was 4-for-5 at the plate, hit the third of her five RBI in the third inning on her third RBI single in as many at-bats.
East Newton (2-5) took advantage of a change in pitchers in the fourth inning and started to make some noise. Up to that inning, the Lady Pats had only one hit off Webb City starter Kyra Parker.
Facing relief pitcher Laney Kneib, seven straight batters reached safely and the team cut into the deficit. Shelby Carrell led off with a single and Sam Mahurin was hit by a pitch — the 20th time this season East Newton had a runner reach base by getting hit — to put two on. Kenzie Reigle reached on an error, before Megan Judd drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
Katlyn Butler hit a fly ball that was dropped to allow the second and third runs to score in the inning. Kristen Gardner drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the final run of the inning.
A possible fifth run of the inning was thwarted with a runner thrown out at home.
“We had a base-running blunder there so we probably could’ve scored another run there when we had the bases loaded,” East Newton coach Jamey Gilion. “We very easily could’ve folded the tents when we were down 8-0 but we competed and in the fourth inning we showed signs of life. We battled and stayed in the game and scored four runs and that is one of the best pitching staffs in Missouri. After facing them, we should expect to hit every time out now.”
