Even if you only counted the top of the seventh inning, Gavyn Beckner had a pretty good game. Beckner homered and doubled during a seven-run seventh, helping seal a 15-5 victory at Willard.
But in addition to his two at-bats in the seventh, Beckner had another hit and a walk. And on top of that, he shut down Willard’s offense, nearly pitching a complete game to earn the win. Beckner allowed five runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. He exited the game with two outs and two runners on base in the seventh inning, having thrown 99 pitches. Republic led 15-3 at the time, but an RBI double scored the two baserunners for whom Beckner was responsible.
After Republic scored two runs in the top of the first inning, Willard answered with two in the bottom of the inning. But Republic put five more on the board in the second, and Beckner made the lead hold up.
Beckner said his game plan on the mound was “to dominate and let my defense have my back. Everyone was sitting on my off-speed , and I started going fastballs in the second and third inning, and I could tell they weren’t ready for it.”
After being staked to a five-run lead, Beckner continued to challenge hitters and seldom got into trouble the rest of the way. Each team scored a single run in the fifth inning, and Republic tacked on seven more in the seventh before Willard closed out the game with two in their last turn at bat.
Beckner’s homer leading off the seventh inning cleared the fence about 20 feet from dead center field, but he didn’t know he’d hit it out.
“Devon told me to wait on , that it’s a lot slower than it looks. So I scooted up in the box and the first pitch (was) over the plate and I sent it. I thought it was a pop fly.”
Willard committed eight errors and went through five pitchers. Six of Republic’s 15 runs were not earned. Willard pitchers also issued 12 walks.
Wyatt Woods had a double and a triple for Republic. Devon Hughes had three hits, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Collin Myers also had two hits, two runs, and two RBIs.
Republic improves to 7-6 overall, 1-0 in the COC. Willard falls to 8-6.
