Softball 10/15/2021 12:56:00 PM By Ryan Retone, Student Intern

Schlenker’s late-inning magic propels top-seeded Nixa softball to district championship game

The long days of rain that swept southwest Missouri forced Wednesday's Class 5 District 6 semifinals between Nixa and Carthage to wait another day. The games scheduled for Nixa were played on Thursday, Oct. 14, at Central's new turf field. Nixa coasted by Central 15-0 for their right in the semifinals while Carthage defeated Kickapoo 5-1.

After two scoreless frames from both teams, it was the No. 5 seeded Lady Tigers that would get on the board first. A single and walk to lead off the inning led to Carthage's first scoring opportunity of the night. After a passed ball moved runners to second and third base, a sacrifice fly gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead. Junior pitcher Maddy Meierer would get a ground ball for the second out of the inning, however another run would score.

The Lady Tigers led 2-0 after three innings.

The Lady Eagles' offense came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning.

A lead-off walk by Apryl Zeno would bring sophomore Lily Wooten into pinch run. Wooten wasted no time in making an impact, as she stole second and put her in prime position to score when Meierer singled to center field, and Wooten did as such, trimming the Carthage lead.

A single followed by a walk brought up Kaylee Schlenker with the bases loaded and two outs. Nixa, who trailed by one, was in the right hands, as Schlenker launched a line drive over the left fielder and to the wall for a three-run double. Carthage pitcher Jensyn Elder would hold it there, and the Lady Eagles would take a 4-2 lead into the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Carthage would narrow Nixa's lead to one with an RBI single from freshman Ashlyn Brust. Meierer gained a strikeout to end the inning with the game-tying run on second base.
Gardner singled to start the bottom half of the frame and scored the next play as a bunt from Dakota Hale was thrown down the right field line, moving Hale all the way to third. The Lady Eagles could not score Hale home.

Nixa carried a 5-3 lead in the sixth inning.

Both teams went down quietly in the sixth, bringing up the bottom of Carthage's lineup to save their season.

Meirerer would strike out the first two batters of the inning, before giving up a two-out double that brought up the Lady Tigers lead-off hitter. A strikeout would give Nixa the 5-3 win, advancing to the district championship.

Paige Garretson and Chloe Krans both had two hits on the day. Meirerer earned the win, pitching a complete game, with 9 strikeouts while only allowing 4 hits and 3 ER.

Nixa (22-8) will take on Ozark (24-7) with a trip to the state playoffs on the line Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at home. The last time these teams met Nixa won 4-2. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

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