Fielding woes cost the Lady Tigers in a Central Ozark Conference game with rival Webb City Thursday. The Cardinals scored an unearned run in the first and two more in the third, and that was all they’d need in a 4-1 victory.
Republic jumped ahead in the top of the first when Kaitlyn Ragsdale led off the game with a triple, then scored on a single through the right side of the infield by A.J. Fenske. But Webb City tied the game in the bottom of the inning after a two-out Republic error kept the inning alive.
In the bottom of the third, Webb City scored two more runs on a two-out double to take the lead for the first time, 3-1. The Cardinals tacked on another run in the fourth inning and were threatening to score more when a line-drive double play helped Republic pitcher Avery Romans escape the jam.
Republic struggled offensively all night, but still managed to put the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh. But after the first two hitters reached base to start the inning, Haidyn Berry struck out the side to end the threat.
Berry struck out 13 batters and allowed only six hits. Romans allowed four runs, but just one was earned.
The win clinched the COC championship for Webb City.
