Republic had plenty of chances to give up and pack it in against Columbia Rock Bridge, a team that has six starters back from a 29-win team last season. Instead, the Tigers put together one of the most stunning comebacks in program history, then held on through a chaotic ending for a nine-inning 18-15 win.
Republic looked down and out at least twice, first in the top of the fifth inning, trailing 10-0. If the Tigers had failed to score, the game would have ended early. But an early finish was definitely not in the cards.
Heading into the top of the 7th inning, Republic trailed 12-3. They were down to their last out six times in a row, and all six batters extended the inning and the game until Republic tied the score 12-12.
In the bottom of the seventh, Rock Bridge put the winning run at third base but failed to score off Landon Carter. Both teams went in order in the eighth inning, but Republic’s offense exploded again in the ninth.
The Tigers took the lead on an RBI double by Gavyn Beckner that scored Gunner Ellison after Ellison had singled and stolen second base. They went on to score five more runs, building an 18-12 lead.
But Rock Bridge refused to quit, scoring three runs off Trace Harrington in the bottom of the inning and loading the bases with one out. Myles Lozano — who pitched two perfect innings Friday in the season opener at Hillcrest — came in to close out the game on the mound. Lozano struck out one hitter and coaxed an infield groundout to finish one of the wildest games in recent memory.
Republic out-hit Rock Bridge 16-14. Beckner and Mason Mitchell each had three hits for the Tigers. Mitchell and Harrington drove in four runs apiece. Ellison, Beckner, and Harrington each scored three times.
Landon Carter picked up the win in relief, working 4 1/3 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. He struck out five and walked two. Lozano got the save and retired the two batters he saw.
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The win was the second of the day for Republic, which had knocked off Rolla 14-8 in the first game of a double-header in Columbia. The games were postponed from Saturday because of cold weather.
Mitchell had three base hits and two RBIs in that win. Ellison drove in four and Beckner drove in five.
The Tigers improve to 3-0 this season. They host Logan-Rogersville Tuesday.