Joplin Rallies Past Nixa 12-8 Behind Madl and Riggs

Jessica Madl homered and Grace Riggs added three hits from the nine spot as Joplin improved to 11-10 with a 12-8 road win over Nixa on Tuesday.

Joplin High School picked up a 12-8 road win over Nixa on Tuesday, improving to 11-10 on the season behind a big night at the plate from senior Jessica Madl and junior Grace Riggs. Nixa fell to 5-11 with the loss.

Madl went a perfect 3 for 3 with a home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Batting ninth in the order, Riggs delivered a 3-for-4 night with two RBIs and a run. Mariah Hagans and Jasmine Diaz each added two hits in four at-bats with two RBIs apiece, and Brylee Mitchell went 1 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs.

Nixa tied the game at 1-1 in the first inning on a solo home run by MaKiah Johnson after Hagans had put Joplin ahead with a first-inning single. Joplin then pulled away with five runs in the fourth inning, keyed by an RBI single from Riggs, a bases-clearing Nixa error and a run-scoring double by Bella Munn.

Madl made it 8-1 with a solo shot over the center field fence in the fifth before Nixa answered with two runs on a Tenley Piwko single. Joplin stretched the lead to 11-3 in the sixth on RBI hits from Hagans and Jasmine Diaz.

Nixa mounted a late charge, including a two-run homer by Bradey Harper in the sixth and a three-run seventh, but the rally came up short as Joplin closed out the 12-8 win. Head coach Jaren Hulette praised his team's offensive approach and its ability to pressure the Nixa defense throughout all seven innings.

Joplin returns to action Thursday with a 5 p.m. game at Webb City High School, which enters the matchup at 12-8-1.