After a night of frustration at the plate, Republic put the tying run on third base in the bottom of the 7th inning, but couldn’t push it across the plate in a 2-1 home loss to Neosho Tuesday. Jenna Belcher had tripled home a run with two outs to cut Neosho’s lead in half, but Carleigh Kinnaird struck out Emma Robinson to end the game.
Kinnaird had been nearly flawless through the first six innings, allowing just three base hits. Republic didn’t get a runner into scoring position until the fourth inning, when Robinson and Tattershall singled back-to-back to start the inning, but Kinnaird worked out of trouble. Tattershall singled to lead off the sixth inning, as well, but the Lady Tigers stranded the runner.
Ella Tattershall had two of Republic’s four base hits, and she also drew a walk. Belcher’s triple in the seventh inning drove in the only run of the game for Republic.
Kinnaird earned the win, striking out nine and walking three in seven innings of work. Mara Lakey was the losing pitcher despite striking out seven, walking none, and scattering seven hits.
Both of Neosho’s runs were unearned. The Wildcats scored single tallies in the first and third innings, both with the benefit of a Republic error.
Republic falls to 5-3. The Lady Tigers host Carl Junction Thursday.