Wildcats win pitcher's duel Wednesday against Neosho
NEOSHO, Mo. — Joplin and Neosho high schools met for a Central Ozark Conference battle Tuesday evening at Neosho Junior High. Both teams were led by their starting pitchers' performance on the mound.
Those pitchers were Drake Jennings for the Wildcats (13-7) and David Bhend for the Eagles (10-7). The difference came down to one big swing for Neosho that put it ahead 3-1 in the fourth inning and that was enough to earn the win. The game was scoreless heading into the third inning.
With one out and the bases loaded, Bhend struck out. Then, showing patience, Joplin's Daniel Rose drew a walk to bring home the game's first run. The inning ended with a pop out to first base by Jacob Porter.
"I thought we were in a good spot. We should've scratched off a few more in that inning with the bases loaded like that and one out," Joplin head coach Chase Kilgore said. "When you get the lead like that, in a competitive conference like this, you have to be able to go out and put up a zero, and we let them right back in it.
" In the home half of the inning, Bhend had two outs on the Wildcats with two runners aboard. Tevin Beaver lined a single over the third baseman's head to score a run from second base, and then the baserunner from first tried to advance to third base on the throw home but was cut down to end the inning with the score tied at 1-1. In the top of the fourth, Joplin's Jensen Stout launched a pitch from Jennings into deep left field that sent Wyatt Woodward tracking back toward the fence.