In an extra-inning thriller, the Republic Lady Tigers fell to Willard 8-7. The game was knotted at seven until an eighth-inning error allowed Willard to score the winning run.
Republic’s Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs opened the scoring in the first inning with a groundout that brought home a run. The lead grew in the third when Piper Dishman’s single drove in two, and another run scored on an error.
Willard countered in the third, tying the game on a home run from Alyson Miller and contributions from Mia Davault and DeLaney Dixon.
Hannah Burks gave Willard a 5-4 lead in the fourth with a run-scoring double. Republic responded in the fifth, leveling the score at five when Dishman homered.
Republic pulled ahead again in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Jenna Belcher and a Willard error. But Willard tied it in the bottom half on a single by Alivia Arauz.
On the mound, Dishman threw 7.1 innings for Republic, giving up eight runs and striking out eight. Dixon earned the win for Willard, allowing just one earned run over 5.2 innings.
Republic’s Dishman had two hits in four at-bats, and Belcher recorded three stolen bases. Willard was paced by Miller with two RBIs, while Reece Anderson and Jazlyn Rennison each added two hits. Davault drew three walks for Willard.
Republic falls to 4-3 this season. The Lady Tigers’ next game is at Neosho on Thursday.
