Webb City softball bounces back from winless weekend, beats Ozark 7-2

Avery Burns struck out 11 in a complete game and Brecklyn Sargent drove in three as the Cardinals overcame an early deficit on the road.

Webb City High School's softball team answered an 0-4 showing at the Branson Tournament with a 7-2 road victory over the Ozark Tigers on Tuesday at Ozark High School. The win moved the Cardinals to 12-8-1 on the season, while Ozark fell to 10-13.

Ozark jumped ahead with two runs in the bottom of the first, both forced in on bases-loaded walks by Webb City starter Avery Burns. Gracie Mason drew the first free pass to bring home Lola Kensinger, and Sam Novik followed with another walk to score Ginny Gallivan.

Those two runs were unearned, and Burns held Ozark to a single hit the rest of the way. She finished with a complete game, allowing one hit while striking out 11 and walking six.

Webb City chipped away beginning in the third, when Brecklyn Sargent doubled to center to score Brooklyn Kean and cut the deficit to 2-1. Sargent put the Cardinals in front in the fifth with a single to right that plated Laekyn Smotherman and Abby Sargent. Chasney Brown followed with a double to right to score Sargent for a 4-2 lead.

After a Jayden Houston run, Brown came home on an Alivia Coleman single to left, making it 6-2. Noa Shewmake added the final run in the sixth, singling to right to bring home Abby Sargent, who had tripled to center.

Five Cardinals recorded multi-hit games. Abby Sargent went 2 for 4 with two runs, Brecklyn Sargent was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run, Brown finished 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, Coleman went 2 for 2 with an RBI, and Shewmake was 2 for 3 with a run.

"It was a great team win tonight," Webb City head coach Kathy Harris said. "We had quality at-bats up and down the lineup and did a really good job of putting pressure on their defense." Webb City is scheduled to host Joplin High School on Thursday at 5 p.m.