Blake Messier pitched five hitless innings in relief to help Republic to a 2-1 win over Camdenton in 13 innings at home Saturday. Messier’s work finished off a stellar performance by the Tiger pitching staff. Austin Atkins, Chandler Coates, and Messier combined to allow just five base hits, striking out 17.
Republic scored first in the bottom of the 3rd inning, when Jansen McQuerter singled home Coates to make the score 1-0. Camdenton responded with an unearned run in the top of the 4th to tie the game. It stayed that way until the bottom of the 13th, when Josh Gentry led off with a single, stole 2nd base, and scored on a single by Coates.
The win gave the Tigers a split of a Saturday double-header, after they lost an earlier game to Aurora, 4-2.
Atkins started on the mound for the Tigers. He allowed only a single unearned run on four hits. He walked four and struck out three.
Coates pitched three shutout innings and only allowed a single hit. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.
Messier came on in the 9th inning and picked up where Coates left off. He didn’t allow a hit, walked three, and struck out eight batters. Messier hasn’t given up a run yet this season in seven relief innings.
The Tigers improve to 5-5. They host Ozark Tuesday at 4:30.