Cardinal third baseman Emalee Lamar catches Monett’s Kaehler Swearingen in a rundown here Thursday.

7-2 Softball Cardinals defeat Joplin 12-2 in first conference game

Freshman starting pitcher Laney Taylor.

Home games Thursday and twice next week

The softball Cardinals are 7-2 and 1-0 in the Central Ozark Conference going into Thursday’s game at Ozark.

Since their two home wins last week to open the season, the Cardinals went 4-2 in the Joplin weekend tournament and defeated Joplin at home Monday 12-2. 

In tournament pool play on Friday, the Cardinals defeated Monett 16-6, Seneca 13-3 and Neosho 13-2. On Saturday, they lost to Staley 5-2 and Broken Arrow 4-1. They ended the tournament with a 7-6 win over Kickapoo.

The 12-2 conference win over Joplin was highlighted by an eight-run fourth inning.

Next week, Webb City will travel to Rolla Monday before entertaining Willard Tuesday and Branson Thursday.

Not this swing, but on the next one, Emalee Lamar hit it over the fence. The score was 16-6 against Monett.

Hannah Wells gets a high-five and a smile from Coach Shauna Friend as she rounds third on her home run.