Landon Carter pitched a two-hit shutout and the Tigers walloped two home runs in a 10-0, six-inning win over Lebanon at home Friday. Gavyn Beckner homered for the second time this week and Mason Mitchell slugged a solo shot.
After hitting Lebanon’s Gavin Smith with the first pitch of the game, Carter was impeccable. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and only allowed one baserunner to reach third base all night. He struck out three, hit two batters, and walked one.
Republic jumped ahead in the first 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Gunner Ellison walked, stole second base, then scored when Beckner homered off the top of the left field fence.
Mitchell led off the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot that cleared the scoreboard in left to make the score 3-0. Devon Hughes followed that up with a single and came in to score later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Gunner Ellison.
Republic added four more in the third. Connor Sandridge walked and scored on a single by Mitchell. Hughes reached on an error. Mitchell eventually scored on a passed ball and Hughes scored on another sacrifice fly by Ellison. A single by Beckner drove home Garrett Lester to make it 8-0.
The Tigers finished the game in the bottom of the sixth with two more runs. Trace Harrington, Wyatt Woods, Mitchell and Hughes walked to put Republic ahead 9-0. With the bases loaded, Andrew Schroeder singled to score Woods and send everyone home.
Beckner finished with two hits and three RBIs, in addition to a walk and a run scored. Mitchell was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two driven in. Schroeder was also 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brett Hendrickson had a base hit in a pinch-hit appearance.
Republic improves to 8-7. The Tigers host Joplin April 18.
