Republic scored single runs in four of the first five innings, then sealed the victory with a four-run sixth, beating Lebanon 8-1 in the district quarterfinals at home on Thursday. Sammi Watson delivered a two-run homer, while Addie Brown, Addison Walker, Gracie Woods, and Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs each contributed two hits for the Lady Tigers.
The Lady Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, when Jenna Belcher reached on an error, stole second base, went to third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball.
In the second, Gerhardt-Hobbs doubled to lead off and scored on an error to make it 2-0.
Republic made it 3-0 in the third inning, when Piper Dishman singled to lead off, courtesy runner Emma Hoodenpyle stole second, and Gracie Woods bunted for a base hit to put runners at the corners. Gerhardt-Hobbs hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Hoodenpyle, adding a run to the lead.
Lebanon scored its only run of the game in the top of the fifth, when Rylinn Sexton drove in Kameron Compton with two outs, making the score 3-1.
In the bottom of the inning, Republic got the run back when Gerhardt-Hobbs singled home Walker to put Republic ahead 4-1.
The Lady Tigers broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Brown singled ahead of Watson’s two-run homer to left field. Belcher reached on an error and came into score on a double by Walker, and Walker scored on an RBI single by Woods.
Walker had a double and a triple for Republic. Woods stole three bases, Cass Ellison and Jenne Belcher each stole two, and Emma Hoodenpyle stole one.
Piper Dishman picked up the win, working seven innings and allowing just one run on five hits. She struck out six and walked one. Kamryn Luthy suffered the loss for Lebanon, which finishes its season at 13-19.
Republic, now 18-13, has won four straight games. The Lady Tigers advance to the district semifinals to be played Saturday afternoon to play Nixa. The game is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. at Republic.
