The baseball Tigers came from behind once, but they couldn’t do it a second time in a 9-6 loss to Webb City at home Wednesday.
Republic fell behind 5-1 through two-and-a-half innings, but scored a single run in the fourth and three more runs in the fifth to tie it. But Webb City answered with a pair of runs in each of the next two innings to claim the victory.
The Tigers have played three games in three days to start the season. Coach Curt Plotner says he’s learned a lot about his team in those games, and he likes a lot of what he’s seen despite their 1-2 start.
“I’m extemely proud of…the kids. Last night (against Rogersville) we were down. We found a way to scratch out a run in the seventh. We didn’t quit,” Plotner says. “Same thing here. We needed four or five to extend the game, but I challenged them. I said, ‘Don’t just roll over. And they didn’t.”
Republic scored a single run in the seventh inning, and had the tying run on deck when the game ended. The Tigers had ten base hits for the game, and their hitting is another bright spot so far.
“Offensively, they’ve surprised us a little bit. We’ve swung the bat pretty well,” Plotner says. “You pound out ten hits against a guy that’s throwing pretty well, that’s a good night offensively.”
Clayton Crowley, Cameron Beck, and A.J. Calhoon had two hits apiece for the Tigers. Calhoon also drove in two runs.
Tyler Cavener pitched six innings and allowed seven runs — five of them earned. He struck out ten and walked three. Cavener got better as the game went on and he began to use his curveball more effectively, especially against Webb City’s lefty-heavy lineup.
“He gutted it out,” Plotner says. “Four games in four days is tough. He had to give us 100 pitches because we’re in a spot where we’ve only got two guys left to go tomorrow (against Nixa).”
The Tigers will host Nixa Thursday.
