A squeeze play in the bottom of the 7th inning pushed Nixa past Republic Tuesday night in a Central Ozark Conference game, 4-3. Nixa’s game-winner was a swift reversal of momentum after the Tigers had tied the game on an RBI double by Ryan Cape in the top of the 7th.
Republic drew first blood in the bottom of the 2nd when they scored two unearned runs on two Nixa errors. Nixa broke on top with three runs in the bottom of the 4th off Republic starter Chandler Coates. The Eagles strung together three hits in a row, followed by an RBI groundout, to take a 3-2 lead.
Outside of that inning, Coates was nearly flawless. He struck out seven batters in the first three innings, then settled down after getting roughed up in the 4th. He pitched six innings, allowed three earned runs, struck out eight and walked just one.
Coates pitched into the 7th inning, but after a pop-up dropped between two infielders for a base hit, Coates fielded a sacrifice bunt and threw high to second base, leaving everyone safe. Jansen McQuerter came on in relief, and that’s when Nixa called the successful squeeze play to get the win.
Cape and Butterworth had two hits apiece for the Tigers. Butterworth scored twice and Cape scored once and drove in a run.
Colin Chandler got the win in relief for Nixa, pitching 1 2/3 innings and allowing a single run.
Republic falls to 11-7 overall. They host Marshfield Thursday.