Cooper Pilkinton went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, including a crucial two-run homer, as Republic rallied for a 10-5 win over Winnetonka Saturday at Carthage. Senior Ryder Davis added a solo home run and a run-scoring triple in the Tigers’ 15-hit attack.
The Tigers broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third inning. Pilkinton doubled to center, scoring Isaac White and Gio Clark. Ryder Smith followed with another double, driving in Pilkinton for a 3-0 lead.
Winnetonka answered with four runs in the fourth inning, taking advantage of a Republic error to grab a 4-3 lead. Landon Erwin singled to drive in two runs, and Travis Brautigam added an RBI single.
Republic regained control with four runs in the sixth inning. Davis tied the game with a solo home run. Preston McCracken doubled to score White, giving Republic a 5-4 lead. Pilkinton then homered to left field, driving in McCracken to extend the lead to 7-4.
After Winnetonka scored once in the bottom of the sixth, Republic added three more runs in the seventh. Davis tripled to drive in Clark, then scored on Cannon Ellison’s single. White capped the scoring with an RBI single to make it 10-5.
Jackson Overstreet started for Republic and worked four innings, allowing four runs.. Cooper Thomas earned the win—his first career varsity win—with three innings of relief, giving up one run.
Republic finished with 15 hits and committed three errors. Winnetonka had six hits and played error-free defense.
Linescore
Republic 0 0 3 0 0 4 3 – 10 15 3
Winnetonka 0 0 0 4 0 1 0 – 5 6 0
