Republic split a double-header in Columbia on Saturday, edging Rolla 2-1 in its first game before falling to host team Rock Bridge 10-5 in the second.
Republic 2, Rolla 1
Caide White struck out nine batters in six innings to lift Republic to a 2-1 win over Rolla in the first game of a double-header at Columbia on Saturday. White only allowed two base hits in picking up his first win of the season. Trace Harrington earned the save.
The pitching staffs of both teams were in control most of the game. The two teams combined for only five base hits in total. Republic left the bases loaded in the third and fourth innings, missing two golden opportunities to take the lead.
The Bulldogs finally got on the board first in the top of the fifth, when they put their only two base hits together to help them score. Vinny Spinaio singled to lead off the inning for Rolla, then advanced to second base on an errant pickoff throw. Login Shivers singled, and when Republic center fielder Garrett Lester overthrew third base, Spinaio scored to put Rolla ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the inning, the Tigers finally broke through. Devon Hughes walked and advanced to second on a groundout. He went to third on a passed ball, and Trace Harrington stroked a single into center field to tie the game. Later in the inning, Brett Hendrickson grounded into a forceout at second, but the throw to first base was off target and hit Hendrickson, allowing him to reach safely as Harrington scored. Jackson Overstreet, who started the play on second base, tried to sneak home behind Harrington, but Rolla first baseman Trustin Richards picked up the ball after it hit Hendrickson and fired it home in time to get Overstreet, ending the inning with Republic ahead 2-1.
White set down the side in order in the sixth inning, but when he walked Richards to open the seventh, Harrington came in to pitch in relief. He hit one batter but worked out of trouble to end the game and earn the save.
Hughes, Harrington, and Overstreet had the only base hits for Republic. Harrington and Hendrickson each had an RBI for the Tigers who improved to 2-0.
Line Score Rolla 000 010 0 - 1 2 2 Republic 000 020 x - 2 3 4
Rock Bridge 10, Republic 6
Columbia Rock Bridge continued its hot hitting start to the 2024 season with a 10-6 win over the Tigers. Rock Bridge racked up 14 base hits and held off a late Republic rally to pick up the win.
The Bruins had scored ten runs in their morning game against Rolla before turning the bats loose against Republic starter Myles Lozano. Rock Bridge scored a single run in the first inning, and three more in the second, highlighted by a two-run homer by Crew Norden.
Republic briefly took the lead in the top of the third inning with a five-run rally that included three hit batsmen, two walks, and two base hits. Brett Hendrickson had the big blast—a bases-loaded double that put Republic ahead 5-4. Carter Nation was gunned down at the plate on Hendrickson’s double to end the inning.
Rock Bridge regained the lead with three more runs in the bottom of the third off Republic starter Myles Lozano. The Bruins scored two more in the fourth, one allowed by Lozano and one allowed by relief pitcher Cannon Ellison. That made the score 9-4, and another tally in the fifth put Rock Bridge up 10-4.
In the seventh inning, the Tigers threatened to make the game interesting despite a big deficit. A year ago in Columbia, Republic had overcome a 12-3 deficit in the seventh inning on the way to an 18-15 win in nine innings. Saturday, Republic put the first two batters on base for Wyatt Woods, but Woods lined into a tough-luck double play to shortstop Cullen Snow. Harrington drove in a run and Jackson Overstreet walked, but reliever Andrew Hill struck out Carter nation to end the game.
The win improved Rock Bridge’s record to 3-0 and dropped Republic to 2-1. The Tigers will play next at Rogersville Tuesday.
Line Score R H E Republic 005 000 1 - 6 6 1 Rock Bridge 133 210 x - 10 14 0