Through the first four innings at Kickapoo Monday, Republic didn’t even get a runner on base. But it just took one swing from EmmaLee Essary to turn things around.
Essary’s two-run homer in the fifth inning gave Republic its first lead and set the stage for a 7-2 win on the road. Ella Tattershall also homered, and pitcher Mara Lakey continued her mid-season surge with a complete-game victory in the center circle.
Kickapoo scored a single unearned run in the top fo the first inning, and pitcher Allison Scott looked like she would make it hold up. She ripped through the Republic lineup in the first four innings, not allowing a baserunner and striking out five.
But a leadoff walk to Mara Lakey in the top of the fifth set up Essary’s two-run homer, a fly ball to right field against the wind that just barely sneaked over the fence.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kickapoo tied the game 2-2. Two batters were hit by pitches, and Callie Muldoon singled home a run before Lakey worked out of the inning.
Republic took the lead for good in the sixth inning when Jaci West scored on an RBI groundout by Lakey, making the score 3-2.
In the seventh, Republic go some insurance runs. Ella Young started the rally with a leadoff single and Addison Walker followed that up with a one-out single. After Jenna Belcher flied out, Jaci West hit a two-out double to make the score 4-2. And with runners on second and third, Tattershall crushed a home run over the center field fence to make the score 7-2.
Lakey pitched seven innings, scattering seven hits and allowing just two runs – one earned.
West had two of Republic’s eight base hits. Tattershall drove in three runs, Essary drove in two, and Lakey and West each drove in one.
The Lady Tigers are 11-6. They host Willard Tuesday.
