Fifth-seeded Joplin baseball scored three runs in the first inning and held off top-seeded Nixa for a 3-1 win in the Class 6 District 6 title game over the weekend.
Joplin advances to take on Blue Springs South in a best two-out-of-three state quarterfinal matchup starting on Friday in Kansas City.
Joplin pushed across a three spot in the first thanks to a two-run single from Cooper Williams.
Landry Wilson earned the complete-game win after allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings. He walked four and struck out one.
Colin Kelley took the loss for Nixa, allowing three runs on five hits and five walks.
Kutler Schwarting had two hits, while Williams had a hit and two RBI to lead Joplin at the plate.