The Lady Tigers softball team scored nine runs in the last three innings to blow open a close game and pull away from Joplin 10-2 Thursday.
A.J. Fenske pitched a complete game and picked up the win, scattering eight hits over seven innings. Joplin’s only runs came on a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.
The Lady Tigers scored first in the opening inning when Kaitlyn Ragsdale walked, stole two bases, and scored on a wild pitch.
In the fifth inning, Megan Weis drove home a run on a bases-loaded infield single chopped in front of home plate. Julia Higgins followed that up with a base hit that scored two more runs. Weis came in to score on a fielder’s choice by Livi Collier.
In the fifth, Megan Thorne singled to lead off and took second on a wild pitch. Riley Laub lined the ball into center to score Thorne. After Emma White was hit by a pitch, Ragsdale laid down a bunt single. When the throw to first base flew into the outfield, Ragsdale circled the bases, along with the two runners in front of her. That made the score 8-0.
After Joplin cut the lead to 8-2, Republic tacked on two more runs in the 7th inning. Collier walked and Jaden Gibbs pinch-ran for her. Gibbs stole second, and Megan Thorne and Avery Romans reached on back-to-back errors, scoring Gibbs. Thorne came in to score on a groundout by Laub.
Republic’s win improves their record to 12-1. They remain unbeaten in the Central Ozark Conference. The Lady Tigers play Kickapoo in Springfield tomorrow.