Republic beat Marion C. Early and Camdenton in two low-scoring games to start the Springfield Invitational Tournament Friday. The Lady Tigers’ pitching tandem of Piper Dishman and Kara Goeke combined to work 14 innings, allowing only two runs in two games. Republic beat Marion C. Early 2-1, then knocked off Camdenton 3-1. In both games, Republic came from behind.
In the opener Friday morning, Marion C. Early scored a run off Dishman in the bottom of the first inning to take the lead, then held onto the lead until the sixth. Republic tied the game in the top of the sixth, when Paige Elsenraat doubled and came into score on an error.
In the top of the seventh, Addie Brown slapped an RBI single to left field, scoring Emma Hoodenpyle and giving Republic a 2-1 lead. Dishman struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.
Dishman struck out 13 batters in all, allowing just one run and two hits in seven innings of work. She walked three.
Elsenraat was 2-for-3 for Republic.
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In the second game of the day, Goeke also gave up a run in the first inning before settling down. This time, the Lady Tigers didn’t wait so long to come back. Republic scored a single run in the second and two in the third to finish off the scoring for the game.
In the second, Dishman singled to lead off and went to third on a double by Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs. Lilli Richerson followed that up with an RBI single to score Dishman.
Republic took the lead for good in the bottom of the third. Walker doubled, and Gracie Woods reached on an error and stole second. Dishman singled them both home to make the score 3-1.
Goeke earned the win, working seven innings and allowing just three hits and a run. She struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.
Dishman was 3-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
Republic advances to the championship bracket of the tournament. The Lady Tigers play Saturday at 9 am against Liberty.