Republic softball took a 2-1 lead into the third inning of its home opener Thursday, but Kickapoo answered with 13 straight runs and beat the Lady Tigers 14-4 in five innings.
The Lady Chiefs pounded out 19 hits, including home runs by Bailee Burke and Jayce Skyles, who drove in four runs apiece.
Republic’s early lead came on the bases. Mia Carnes led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second, and then stole home to tie the game at 1-1. In the second, Jayma Pitchford singled with one out and eventually scored on a passed ball, putting Republic ahead 2-1.
Kickapoo took the lead for good with four runs in the third. Two walks and five singles did the damage, with Autumn Shockey’s two-run single making it 5-2. The Lady Chiefs added three more in the fourth with the help of Burke’s two-run homer.
Republic answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Maddie Carter walked, Kate Stulce singled, and Carnes drove in a run with a two-out single to make it 8-3.
Kickapoo put the game away with six runs in the fifth. Madison Akers, Voorhis, and Burke hit back-to-back-to-back doubles, and Skyles capped the inning with a three-run homer to center field, making it 14-3.
Game page →The Lady Tigers scored once more in the fifth. Maddie Taylor doubled, moved to third on an Emma Ellison single, and scored after tagging up on Carter’s pop fly to center.
Kendra Goeke took the loss. Kennedy Smithson finished the game, retiring two of the three batters she faced.
Carnes had two hits, an RBI, and three stolen bases to lead Republic at the plate. Ellison also had two hits, and Taylor doubled and scored.
The loss dropped Republic to 2-3. The Lady Tigers play Smith-Cotton Friday.
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