Freshman Jenna Belcher’s first career varsity home run tied the game in the bottom of the third, and Republic used the momentum to pull away from Ozark in an 8-5 victory. Belcher’s homer tied the game 2-2 after Ozark had taken the lead on a two-run homer in the top of the third.
The game stayed even until the bottom of the fifth, when Republic exploded for five runs. Jaci West reached on an error and Jenna Belcher singled with one out to move her to second. A.J. Fenske singled to load the bases, and Mara Lakey drove in a run with a walk. Emi Essary followed that up with a hard ground ball on the right side to score two more. Emma White squeezed home another run, and the Lady Tigers scored another run on a groundout by Avery Romans.
Ozark got back in the game with a three-run homer in the sixth, but Avery Romans was solid the rest of the way, picking up the complete-game win.
Belcher and Fenske each had two hits for the Lady Tigers, who improved to 12-5, rebounding from an 11-1 loss at Carl Junction Monday night.