Mara Lakey pitched a complete-game shutout and Ella Tattershall drove in two runs to lead Republic past Carthage on the road Thursday. Lakey scattered four hits and a walk in helping the Lady Tigers return to conference play with a win.
Jenna Belcher single-handedly put Republic ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning. She reached on a bunt single, stole second base, advanced to third base on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball.
In the second, EmmaLee Essary was hit by a pitch to lead off. She advanced to second on a groundout, went to third on a passed ball, and scored on another passed ball to put Republic ahead 2-0.
Republic’s big inning came in the third. Addison Walker singled to left field and Belcher reached on a bunt single before Tattershall doubled them both home with a drive to center field. Essary followed that up with an RBI single to make the score 5-0.
Meanwhile, Lakey cruised through the first five innings without allowing a Carthage runner to reach second base. In the sixth, a single, a walk, and an error allowed Carthage to load the bases, but Lakey worked out of trouble with a strikeout to end the inning. In the seventh, a two-out error and a single put two runners on, but Lakey coached a flyout to end the game.
Republic improves to 10-6 overall and 3-1 in the Central Ozark Conference. The Lady Tigers play on the road at Kickapoo Monday.