The Lady Tigers ripped nine home runs in four games to start their season at the Morrisville Tournament, but Jaci West saved the best for last. With Republic trailing Nevada 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth and final inning, West slugged a three-run homer to secure a come-from-behind win in their final game of the weekend. It was their third win in four games to start the season.
Republic 12, Walnut Grove 0
Republic opened the season with a 12-0 win over Walnut Grove in just three innings. The power surge got underway in that game, with a grand slam from leadoff hitter Jenna Belcher, who had one of the best all-around games in recent memory. Belcher was 2-for-2, walked once, and stole five bases to go along with her grand slam.
Belcher and EmmaLee Essary each had two hits, and Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs had two RBIs and scored twice in her varsity debut.
Essary pitched three innings and allowed just one hit, striking out seven and walking two to record the win.
Camdenton 10, Republic 7
Republic’s only loss of the weekend came in a Friday night battle against Camdenton. The Lady Tigers took a 4-3 lead after three innings, but the Lakers scored seven runs in the final two innings to grab the win, aided by six Republic errors.
Republic hit four home runs in a losing cause: two by Essary, one by West, and one by Ella Tattershall. Essary was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, and Megan Heavin also had two base hits for the Lady Tigers.
Mara Lakey took the loss, allowing 10 runs, but only two of those runs were earned. She struck out two and walked two in five innings of work.
Republic 15, Lebanon 3
Republic rebounded with a convincing win Saturday afternoon against Lebanon. Tattershall and Lakey both homered, and the Lady Tigers got three RBIs apiece from Emma Robinson and Megan Heavin. Everyone in the lineup scored at least once in the three-inning win; Robinson, Tattershall, and Gracie Woods each scored twice.
Lakey pitched again to earn the win. She went the three-inning distance, allowing three runs (one earned). She walked one and didn’t strike out a batter.
Republic 8, Nevada 6
The last game of the weekend featured West’s walk-off heroics, but other players came up big at key times. Essary hit her third homer of the young season and drove in three runs. Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs and Megan Heavin had two hits apiece.
Essary and Lakey combined to handle the pitching duties. Essary started, allowing four runs (one earned) in the first inning, before Lakey came in to finish. Lakey pitched the final four innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three base hits.
Republic trailed 6-5 when the bottom of the fifth inning began. Tattershall reached on an error and Lakey walked. After Essary popped out, West lined the ball over the center field fence to set off a celebration.
The Lady Tigers host Rolla Monday, and Republic Tiger Sports will broadcast the game live.
