Beckner, Carter highlight Tiger baseball wins

Republic won two lopsided decisions with a close loss sandwiched in-between during a busy week of baseball.
Tuesday at Willard, Republic got its first Central Ozark Conference win of the season with a 15-5 victory. Gavyn Beckner earned the win on the mound and came within one batter of pitching a complete game. He also had a home run, a double, a single and a walk.
Wyatt Woods had a double and a triple for Republic. Devon Hughes had three hits, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Collin Myers also had two hits, two runs, and two RBI's.
Thursday in Webb City, Republic's Caide White and Webb City's Landon Fletcher had locked up in a COC pitcher's duel all evening before the seventh inning. Through six, the score was tied 1-1, and each pitcher had eight strikeouts.
Republic scored a single run in the seventh on an RBI single by Devon Hughes to take a 2-1 lead, but Webb City took advantage of a Republic error to score two runs after two were out in the bottom of the seventh for a 3-2 win. White struck out eight batters and allowed three runs — only one of them earned — but got saddled with the loss.
Friday against Lebanon, Landon Carter pitched a six-inning shutout as Republic beat the Yellowjackets 10-0 at home. Carter allowed only two base hits and five baserunners total.
Beckner slugged a two-run homer in the first inning and Mason Mitchell followed that up with a solo homer in the second inning to get Republic off to a fast start. Beckner finished with two hits and three RBI's. Mitchell was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI's. Andrew Schroeder was also 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brett Hendrickson had a base hit in a pinch-hit appearance.
The win helped Republic end the week above .500 at 8-7.