Nathan Strobel pitched a complete game, striking out nine and allowing just six hits, as Republic beat Nixa 5-1 Thursday.
Republic managed only four hits, but drew seven walks. The Tigers broke on top with two runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Garrett Woods tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Strobel, and Austin Beckner singled and scored later in the inning.
Nixa scored its lone run in the 4th, but Republic picked up an insurance run in the 5th to make the score 3-1.
The Eagles threatened again in the 6th, when back-to-back hitters singled with one out. But Strobel forced a double-play grounder on the next play. Woods scooped the ball up near the bag at shortstop, stepped on second base, and fired to first to end the inning.
Republic scored two more runs in the bottom of the 6th, taking advantage of a walk and a Nixa error to built a 4-run lead, before Strobel finished out the game in the top of the 7th.
