Republic connected for four home runs — two of them by Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs — in a 10-3 win over Neosho in Central Ozark Conference play. Jenna Belcher and Addison Walker also homered in the home win for Republic.
The Lady Tigers busted the game open early with six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Walker reached on an error and Addie Brown was hit by a pitch, setting up an RBI double by Lilli Richerson that left runners on second and third with Republic leading 1-0. One out later, Brown scored on a squeeze play bunt by Gracie Woods to make the score 2-0. Belcher singled home another run, then Woods and Belcher both scored on the same wild pitch to make it 5-0. Gerhardt-Hobbs hit her first homer to make the score 6-0.
In the fourth, Belcher homered to center field with one out and Gerhardt-Hobbs homered with two outs to put Republic ahead 8-0. Walker’s homer in the fifth, also a solo shot, made it 9-0.
Neosho plated three runs in the top of the sixth, but that was as close as the Wildcats would get. Republic capped the scoring with a single run in the bottom of the sixth.
Belcher, Gerhardt-Hobbs, Walker, and Richerson each had two hits for the Lady Tigers.
Piper Dishman was the winning pitcher. She worked seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out 13 and walking nine.
Republic improves to 5-2. They’re 1-1 in COC play.