Glendale beat Republic 3-2 on Thursday in the opening game of the Willard Tournament for both teams. The game was tied at two in the bottom of the eighth when Brayden Biggers singled with the bases loaded to score the winning run.
The pitching staffs for both teams were the bright spot of the night. The Tigers managed only four base hits and Glendale had five. Republic starter Caide White struck out six batters in five innings, while Trace Harrington struck out five in relief before allowing the decisive run in the bottom of the eighth.
Glendale opened the scoring in the third when Mark Ross hit a solo home run to left field.
Republic jumped into the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Brett Hendrickson tripled home Wyatt Woods, who had singled with one out. Carter Nation doubled to drive in Hendrickson, putting Republic up 2-1.
Sebastian Norman’s sacrifice fly tied the game at two in the bottom of the fifth.
The game remained scoreless until the eighth inning, when Norman doubled off the center field fence to lead off. Harrington intentionally walked a batter, then hit the next batter to load the bases, setting up Biggers for the game-winner.
Harrington allowed just two hits in his 2 1/3 innings of work. He walked two, including the intentional walk in the final inning, and allowed just one run. White, the starter, pitched five innings, allowing two runs on three hits and walking three batters to go with his six strikeouts.
Republic welcomes Skiatook, Oklahoma, to town for a Friday game. (We will carry that game live on our YouTube channel.)