Republic loaded the bases in the first inning with nobody out, but failed to score — and they were playing catchup the rest of the day in a 5-1 loss to Mid-Buchanan at the Park Hill South Tournament Friday.
Mid-Buchanan scored a single run in the bottom of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead, and Republic briefly tied the game 1-1 in the third. Gracie Woods singled, stole second, went to third on an error, and scored on a passed ball.
The Dragons re-took the lead for good in the fifth inning. They scored four runs after two batters were out. Maddy Conard’s bases-loaded hit was the big blow in the four-run inning.
Woods led Republic with two base hits from the leadoff spot. Piper Dishman suffered the loss, allowing five runs — three earned — in five innings of work. She struck out ten and walked five.