Republic jumped out to an early lead, then withstood a furious seventh-inning rally to edge Monett 14-13 Thursday at home.
The Tigers, leading 11-2 in the fifth inning, had a chance to end the game early, but stranded the game-ending runner at third base before Monett mounted its comeback.
Republic’s offense erupted in the first inning, scoring five runs on five hits. Ryder Davis singled to lead off before Cannon Ellison tripled him home. Jackson Overstreet singled and Isaac White followed with a triple, pushing the lead to 3-0. Preston McCracken reached on an error, scoring White, and Landon Perkins capped the rally with an RBI single for a 5-0 advantage.
The Tigers stretched their lead to 7-0 in the second inning with two more runs, including a sacrifice fly by White. Monett scored twice in the third to make it 7-2, but Republic countered when courtesy runner Nolan Lashley scored on a balk in the bottom half, extending the lead to 8-2.
After a quiet fourth inning, Republic pushed the margin to 11-2 in the fifth. White doubled home Davis, and runs scored on McCracken’s groundout and a Monett error.
The Cubs mounted their first serious threat in the sixth, scoring five runs to close within 11-7. Republic responded with three crucial insurance runs in the bottom half to make it 14-7, highlighted by a fielder’s choice RBI and two Monett miscues.
Those runs proved vital when Monett exploded for six runs in the seventh. The Cubs got three base hits off reliever Ryder Smith, then three more off reliever Kyler Tate. Aidan Clapper cleared the bases with a double, making it 14-11. Braden Cendroski’s sacrifice fly and Collin Umfleet’s RBI double cut the deficit to one run. With the tying run at third base, Cooper Pilkinton entered the game to pitch. He induced a groundout to shortstop Davis, who fired to first baseman Nolan Coble for the final out. Coble dug the throw out of the dirt to preserve the victory.
Davis earned the win as the starting pitcher, working six innings and allowing seven runs on 11 hits while striking out six. At the plate, he went 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored.
White went 2-for-3 with a triple, double, three RBIs and two runs. Ellison collected a triple and scored three times, while McCracken drove in three runs and Jackson Overstreet drove in two.
Republic (5-1) continues its busy schedule with games at Glendale on Friday, then a Saturday doubleheader at Carthage against Winnetonka and Warrensburg.
Linescore
Monett 002 005 6 – 13 17 5
Republic 520 133 x – 14 11 3
