Ryker Harrington homered and Brady Usgaard and Cole Iles combined to throw a three-hitter as Republic beat Rolla 9-4 Saturday at Parkview High School. Republic scored its nine runs despite managing only four base hits, taking advantage of 10 walks by Rolla pitchers.
The Tigers got on the board in the top half of the first inning when Gavyn Beckner doubled and Ryker Harrington followed that up with a shot over the right field wall, his third home run of the season, making the score 2-0. In the third inning, the Tigers scored four runs without benefit of a hit. The big play came with two outs and the bases loaded, when Richard Potter hit a fly ball into left field, which the left fielder dropped. All three runners scored and Potter ended up at second base. He came in to score after a balk and a wild pitch, and Republic was up 6-0. In the fifth inning, the Tigers scored a single run when Ace McWatters singled, stole a base, and scored.
Usgaard cruised through the first four innings on the mound, allowing just one base hit, but he ran into trouble in the fifth. Four walks and a base hit made the score 7-2, and Rolla had the bases loaded with just one out. But Iles came in to record the final two outs of the inning, one a sacrifice fly, and Republic ended the fifth inning with a 7-3 lead.
Republic scored single runs in the sixth and seventh inning, and Rolla tacked on a run in the bottom of the seventh to make the final score 9-4.
Usgaard was the winning pitcher, and Luke Seest took the loss for Rolla in his first start of the season. Iles, who entered the game with the tying run on deck for Rolla, earned a save for his work. Usgaard allowed three runs on two hits in 4 1/3 innings. Iles pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed a single run, striking out three.
Republic improves to 4-3, moving above the .500 mark for the first time this season.
The Tigers play Willard at 3:30 and Glendale at 6:00 Saturday. Republic Tiger Sports will NOT be live streaming either game.