The Tigers baseball team just couldn’t seem to hold onto the lead Monday night at Cassville — until it really mattered. Parker Nelson doubled home Zach Branstetter with one out in the top of the 8th inning, giving Republic the lead for good in a 7-6 victory.
Republic had jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the 1st when Austin Atkins walked and scored on a wild pitch. Cassville answered with two runs in the bottom of the 3rd, but Republic struck back to score twice in the 5th, taking a 3-2 lead. Cassville scored a single run in the bottom of the inning to tie it.
In the 6th, Ryan Cape led off with a single and Jansen McQuerter doubled. Cape scored on a groundout by Chandler Coates, and Austin Atkins singled home McQuerter to make it 5-3. Again, though, Cassville answered with two more runs, tying the score 5-5.
Republic scored a single run in the seventh when Parker Nelson reached on an error and came around to score on a single by Regan Butterworth. In the bottom of the seventh, Cassville tied the game and had the winning run in scoring position before Republic retired the side.
Creighton Thomas led off the 8th inning with a walk, and was replaced by Branstetter on the bases. That’s when Nelson roped a 2-2 pitch into left field to drive home the winning run.
McQuerter struck out the side in the bottom of the 8th to pick up the victory on the mound. Alex Vanderpool took the loss for Cassville.
Alex Reynolds had started the game for the Tigers, allowing five runs — just three of them earned — in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits, struck out two and walked two. McQuerter pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out five and walking just one.