Republic baseball wins one, drops two close matches

Republic went 1-2 last week, beating Ozark 8-1 on the road before dropping home games to Nixa 8-6 and Branson 6-5 in games decided by late-inning drama.

The Tigers controlled Tuesday's contest at Ozark behind Brennan Overstreet's complete-game performance and a seven-run sixth-inning explosion. Overstreet scattered three hits and struck out eight while retiring 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.

Zayden Danielson, returning to the lineup after an early-spring injury, sparked the decisive rally with a two-run single that gave Republic its first lead at 2-1. The Tigers sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, scoring seven runs on four hits, three Ozark errors and a hit batsman.

"I knew that this was my first game back. I used to go to this school," said Danielson. "I was like, 'This is for me. They set me up for this,' so I was just ready to hit the ball."

Cooper Thomas paced Republic with three hits, while Danielson finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Preston McCracken went 2-for-4 and scored twice.

Thursday's home game against Nixa saw Republic build a 5-1 lead through three innings before surrendering it in the fourth and fifth. The Tigers took a 2-1 advantage in the second inning when Landon Perkins and Overstreet both scored on passed balls.

Republic extended the lead to 5-1 in the third when Overstreet drove home Thomas and McCracken with a double, then scored on a throwing error after Danielson's RBI double.

Nixa rallied with four runs in the fourth, highlighted by Adam McKnight's three-run homer that tied the game at 5-5. The Eagles took control with three more runs in the fifth on Wyatt Mabe's two-run double.

Thomas took the loss after allowing seven runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.

Friday's game against Branson featured a late Republic rally that fell just short. The Tigers trailed 6-0 entering the sixth inning before scoring five runs over the final two frames.

Republic cut the deficit to 6-1 in the sixth when Perkins tripled and scored. In the seventh, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out and scored four runs to make it 6-5. Danielson drove in two runs with a double, and Nolan Lashley added an RBI single. but Branson reliever Keagan Waugh struck out Overstreet and Evan Rockhill to end the game.

Republic ended the week at 4-7 overall.