Wyatt Woods and Brett Hendrickson each drove in two runs and Garrett Lester pitched three scoreless innings to help Republic whip Hillcrest in Friday’s season opener, 11-1. Republic out-hit Hillcrest 7-4 and took advantage of eight Hornet errors to pick up the win.
The Tigers scored two runs in the first, three more in the second, and three in the third to jump on top 8-0 before Hillcrest managed to push a run across the plate in the top of the fourth. Republic matched that with a tally in the bottom of the fourth, then scored two more to end the game early in the bottom of the sixth.
Republic struck first when Devon Hughes and Woods singled. After a Hillcrest error, Hughes scored from third base on a balk. Woods came in to score on another error, putting Republic ahead 2-0.
In the second inning, Kanon Krol and Ryder Davis both singled with one out. Lester reached on an error, allowing Krol to score, and both Davis and Lester scored on an RBI single by Woods. That made the score 5-0.
Jackson Overstreet led off the bottom of the third inning with a walk and eventually scored on a single by Hendrickson. Krol walked, and he and Hendrickson scored on an error, giving Republic an 8-0 lead.
Hillcrest scored its only run without the benefit of a base hit in the fourth inning. Republic relief pitcher Ethan Anderson hit a batter with one out, and the runner came around to score with the help of a balk and two wild pitches. After that, Anderson settled down to get out of the inning, leaving Republic with an 8-1 advantage.
Republic got the run back in the bottom of the fourth with the help of two errors and a double by Carter Nation, making the score 9-1.
Two more unearned runs for Republic in the bottom of the sixth ended the game early.
Lester started on the mound for Republic and picked up the win. He struck out six and did not walk a batter, allowing four hits during his three-inning stint. Anderson allowed a run, a hit, and two walks in his one inning of work. Kyler Tate worked a perfect inning in relief, striking out a batter. Cannon Ellison also worked an inning. He struck out one and hit a batter.
Woods had two base hits for Republic. Hughes, Nation, Hendrickson, Krol, and Davis had one each.
Republic improves to 1-0 and will travel to Columbia Saturday for a double-header that includes games with Rolla and Rock Bridge. We’ll carry both games live on our YouTube channel starting at noon.