By Anvil Welch

awelch@joplinglobe.com

CARTHAGE, Mo. — Joplin tied the game in the seventh inning and pushed across the winning run in the 10th to claim a 2-1 decision against Carthage in a clash of strong MSHSAA Class 4 prep softball teams Tuesday.

Kelsey Loyd topped Denise Taylor in a matchup of right-handers on the Tiffany L. Peterson Field of Dreams at Fair Acres Family YMCA.

“This is a real good game to win,” Joplin coach Kirk Harryman said. “I’m proud of the way we battled back. We needed a tough game like this.”

“We expected a close game,” Carthage coach Gordon Godfrey said. “It turned out to be a good one. It was a great effort on the part of both pitchers.”

Joplin was down to its final strike in the seventh before pinch hitter Lauren Copple delivered a single to drive home Taylor Tyrell with the tying run.

Tyrell, running for Loyd after she singled, stole second to set the stage for Copple.

“What a great job considering she came off the bench,” Harryman said of Copple.

Jessie Musser then singled in the 10th with one out and came home on Randi Russell’s triple down the right-field line.

Carthage broke through in the fifth against Loyd. Singles by Katelyn Tarwater and Jessica Chrisman and a fielder’s choice loaded the bases with one away. Amber Beckner then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Tarwater.

Beckner’s fly actually was dropped for an error to keep the sacks jammed, but a Talia Triplett liner was turned into a double play.

“We played well on defense,” Harryman said. “We made most of the routine plays.”

Godfrey said the Eagles’ execution finally did his team in.

“Joplin did a good job,” Godfrey said. “They had key hits. We didn’t capitalize on two or three opportunities.