Sherwood senior pitcher Kennedy Diggs is very likely to be the all-time Missouri career strikeout leader by the time she finishes this season. But Saturday night, Republic sophomore Piper Dishman was a little bit better.
Dishman and Diggs hooked up in an epic pitcher’s duel late Saturday, and Dishman helped the Lady Tigers come out on top.
The game was scoreless through five innings. But a leadoff walk to Sammi Watson and an RBI single by Paige Elsenraat put Republic on the board in the top of the sixth inning, and they tacked on another run to take a 2-0 lead. Dishman retired the side in the bottom of the sixth to finish out the win.
After surrendering a hit to the first batter of the night, Dishman retired 18 batters in a row to close out the game. She struck out 14, while Diggs struck out 16.
So far this season, Dishman has pitched nine shutout innings, striking out 19 batters, walking one, and allowing just two hits.