Republic rallied from a three-run deficit in the top of the seventh inning to tie Joplin 8-8 on the road Tuesday — but Joplin responded with a single run in the bottom of the seventh to steal back a 9-8 Central Ozark Conference victory.
The score had gone back and forth most of the night, with Republic taking a 3-0 lead in the second, only to have Joplin go back on top 4-3 in the bottom of the third. The Lady Tigers answered with two in the fourth, taking a 5-4 lead, then Joplin tied the game in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, Joplin scored three to jump ahead 8-5, and the score stayed that way until Republic’s seventh-inning rally.
Republic managed just seven base hits, two of them by EmmaLee Essary. Lilli Richerson drew three walks, and Gracie Woods scored a run and drove in two more.
Piper Dishman suffered the loss, allowing nine runs — only five of them earned — on 12 hits. She walked four and struck out eight in 6 1/3 innings.
Republic falls to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the COC.