Republic Thumps Nixa in COC Showdown

Nixa’s Sammi Hargis drilled the first pitch of the game over the left field fence for a home run. It was all downhill from there for the Lady Eagles.

Rachel Rook didn’t allow another hit, striking out eight, as the Lady Tigers beat Nixa 10-1 at home Thursday. Republic took a 2-1 lead on consecutive hits by Taylor Hulland and Julia Higgins in the bottom of the first. Megan Thorne drove in two more runs with a single later in the inning.

Republic scored a single run in the third inning and five more in the bottom of the fifth, before the game was called because of lightning in the area.

Higgins went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored for the Lady Tigers. Kami Holt reached base four times — all on walks.

Republic improves to 7-3 overall, and 3-0 in the Central Ozark Conference. They’ll play five games in the next two days at the Ozark tournament.