Republic’s seventh-inning rally fell short in a rainy 6-4 home loss to Nixa Tuesday. Of the ten runs scored in the game, the teams scored eight of them in the last two innings.
Nixa left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, Republic took the lead. An RBI single by Piper Dishman drove in Paige Elsenraat to make the score 1-0.
Nixa tied the score in the top of the second inning after two were out, but Republic’s Piper Dishman worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the score even, and it stayed that way until the top of the sixth.
As rain began to fall more heavily, Nixa scored two more runs off Dishman to take the lead for the first time in the sixth. Dishman walked one batter and hit three others. Despite Nixa losing a runner in a failed steal attempt, they managed to break the tie when Brienne Chilton blooped a hit into center field, bringing in two runs and putting Nixa ahead 3-1.
Republic got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Dishman singled with one out and Addison Walker also singled to put runners at first and second. With two outs, Lilli Richerson doubled to left field, scoring one run and making the score 3-2.
After Nixa added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh, Republic threatened in its last at-bat. Sammi Watson and Gracie Woods both singled, and Paige Elsenraat walked to load the bases. Nixa relief pitcher Paige Garetson retired Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs on a sacrifice fly that scored Watson, cutting the Nixa lead to 6-3. A single by Dishman scored Woods and advanced Elsenraat to third with the score 6-4. After Addison Walker struck out, pinch runner Emma Hoodenpyle stole second to put the tying run in scoring position, but Garetson struck out Addie Brown to secure the win for the Lady Eagles.
Dishman led Republic at the plate with three base hits. Brown and Richerson each had two.
Republic’s record falls to 11-9. The Lady Tigers are at Webb City Thursday.
