The Republic softball team fell short in a back-and-forth, extra-innings battle against Carthage, losing 7-6 in the championship game of the Morrisville Tournament. The game lasted until well after midnight, finally ending after Carthage pushed across a single run in the top of the ninth inning, then held Republic off the scoreboard.
Republic jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning. Addison Walker drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, and scored on a Carthage error. Paige Elsenraat reached on an error and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs.
Carthage responded in the second, cutting the deficit to 2-1, then took the lead, 4-2, with a three-run third.
Republic cut the lead to 4-3 when Walker blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the inning. Carthage got the run back in the fourth, pushing its lead to 5-3.
Republic clawed back with a run in the fifth, when Walker singled leading off and came in to score on a single by Piper Dishman. Carthage avoided further trouble when Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Carthage again took a two-run lead with a single tally in the top of the seventh, so Republic faced a two-run deficit as the bottom of the seventh inning began. Ashland Schaumann singled to lead off, but a pop-out and a line-out left Republic down to its last out. Elsenraat kept the rally alive with a single, and Piper Dishman ripped a two-run double to the fence to tie the game. Annabelle Gerhardt-Hobbs nearly ended the game with a long fly-out, sending the teams to extra innings.
Despite beginning the extra innings with a runner at second base, neither team managed to score in the eighth. In the top of the ninth, that free baserunner immediately advanced to third on the controversial first pitch of the inning. The pitch from Dishman went to the backstop, and Republic players thought the ball had been tipped on a bunt attempt. Neither umpire saw or heard a tip, allowing the runner to stay at third base.
Dishman struck out two batters, but a two-out, pop-fly single into left field drove home the runner and gave Carthage a 7-6 lead. Republic was retired without a run in the bottom of the inning, ending the game.
Walker finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Elsenraat was 2-for-5 and scored twice. Schaumann and Dishman also had two hits for Republic, with Dishman driving in three runs. She banged a line drive off the center field fence, narrowly missing a home run.
Kara Goeke started, pitching four innings and allowing five runs, four earned. She struck out one batter and walked no one. Dishman, in relief, pitched well but took the loss. She worked five innings, striking out nine batters. She walked three, allowing one hit and one run.
Despite the loss, Republic’s performance throughout the tournament earned recognition for three players. Addie Brown, Piper Dishman, and Paige Elsenraat were named to the all-tournament team.
Brown hit .500 with six hits, adding six RBIs, including the game-winner in the semifinal win over Cassville. Elsenraat batted .571 with three doubles and a home run. Dishman contributed both on the mound and at the plate, pitching 12 innings with 18 strikeouts while also driving in four runs.
The championship game loss brought Republic’s record to 3-1 for the season. The Lady Tigers will jump straight into Central Ozark Conference play this week, with battles against rivals Ozark and Nixa.
