Kearney scored five runs before Republic recorded an out, and the deficit was too much for the Tigers to overcome in a game at William Jewell College Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs rode their hot start to a 9-6 win.
Coming off a complete-game shutout, Landon Carter reversed fortune Friday. After the first batter reached on an error, Carter walked two batters, then hit a third to force in a run. That set up an opposite-field grand slam by Kale Conway to make the score 5-0.
Republic got back in the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Wyatt Woods reached on an error leading off, Garrett Lester singled, and Gavyn Beckner walked to load the bases. Trace Harrington hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score one run, Gunner Ellison drove in another run, and Devon Hughes singled home a third.
Kearney added a single run off Carter in the third inning to go ahead 6-3, then plated three more off reliever Jackson Overstreet to take a 9-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning.
Hughes drove in his second run of the day with a single that scored Mason Mitchell in the fifth inning to put the score at 9-4. And Trace Harrington slugged a two-run homer over the left field fence in the top of the seventh to get the Tigers within three at 9-6. But Kearney’s Manny Linthacum came in to pitch, retiring the side to close out the game.
In addition to Harrington’s home run, he was the bright spot for the Tigers on the mound. He came in with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the fifth and struck out two batters to end the inning. He finished the game by retiring all eight batters he faced, striking out four of them.
Republic falls to 10-9. The Tigers will play Park Hill South at Kearney Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Republic Tiger Sports will carry the game live.