Baseball Tigers lose two, including conference opener to Ozark squad

The Republic baseball team dropped two games last week, including their Central Ozark Conference opener against Ozark.
Ozark 12
Republic 8
Ozark scored six unearned runs off Gavyn Beckner to build a big lead, then held off a comeback to beat Republic to open the COC season at Republic. A leadoff error in the second inning led to a four-run Ozark rally, and two more unearned runs crossed the plate in the third.
Republic scored its first run on an RBI single by Beckner in the bottom of the third, then added four runs in the fourth, with Beckner driving in two more runs, and Gunner Ellison and Devon Hughes driving in one apiece.
With the score 6-5, though, Ozark knocked around Republic reliever Landon Carter for six runs to stretch their lead to 12-5.
Republic’s final comeback attempt ended after three runs had already scored in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and the tying run at home plate, Gunner Ellison – who had two hits earlier in the game – grounded into a double play.
Ozark out-hit Republic 15-12. Connor Sandridge was 4-for-4 with two runs scored for the Tigers. Ellison, Beckner, and Ace McWatters each had two hits.
Kickapoo 8
Republic 4
Republic failed to hold onto an early 2-0 lead in an 8-4 loss at Kickapoo, Wednesday. The Chiefs took advantage of nine walks by Republic pitchers, scoring their eight runs despite having only six base hits.
Republic scored first in the top of the third inning. With two out, Gunner Ellison walked and Gavyn Beckner tripled him home. McWatters made the score 2-0 with a leadoff homer in the fourth.
Kickapoo scored five runs in the fifth. The Chiefs had three doubles in the inning, and despite a double play by Republic, led 5-2 when the inning was over.
Kickapoo added three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-2 lead. Republic scored twice in the seventh, thanks to an RBI single by McWatters and a sacrifice fly by Devon Hughes.
Cole Iles suffered the loss, pitching four innings and allowing five runs on four hits. He struck out five and walked five.
During Republic’s two games last week, McWatters was 5-for-7 with a double and a home run. He has hit in seven straight games and raised his season batting average to .515.