The Lady Tigers finally allowed a run, but it wasn’t enough to stop red-hot Republic from staying undefeated to start the season with a 7-1 victory over Carthage Thursday night.
Kami Holt slugged a home run for the second straight game, doubled, drove in four runs, and scored twice to power the offense. Lauren Strobel and Caty Eby each had three hits at the top of the lineup. Strobel, Eby, and Holt combined for eight of the Lady Tigers’ nine hits in the game.
Rachel Rook pitched another complete game, allowing just one unearned run in seven innings and striking out eight. She walked one. Through four games, Rook has pitched 22 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
Republic broke ahead with a single run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Holt that scored Eby.
They scored two more on Holt’s home run with Strobel aboard in the 3rd.
In the bottom of the 5th, Republic made it 5-0 on a two-run double by Holt that scored Strobel and Eby.
Carthage scored its only run in the top of the 6th when Sierra Teagarden hit a short popup to second baseman Allie Stolte, who misjudged it and let it glance off her glove. After it was initially ruled a hit, the scoring was changed to an error.
Republic got the run back on a sacrifice fly by Emily Hall in the bottom of the 6th, and Rook retired Carthage in order in the top of the 7th to seal the victory.
Kami Holt hit a monstrous drive over the left field fence for her second home run in as many games, earning Country Couture Player of the Game honors in the Republic home opener. All season long, Country Couture Boutique is sponsoring a player of the game for Lady Tigers softball. Stop in to their store across from Casey’s on Highway 174 for a complete selection of softball and other Tiger and Lady Tiger apparel.
“I told them I’m very proud that they won. We’re 1-0 in the conference. The conference is very tough for us,” says coach Lee Dishman. “But there’s still things we can work on. We’re still winning ball games, but we’ve got to get better at those little things. That’s what separates good teams from those great teams, and we want to be a great team.”
Republic improves to 4-0 this season. They travel to Cape Girardeau this weekend for the Notre Dame Invitational Tournament.