Scott City baseball team uses big third inning to beat East Prairie

SCOTT CITY -- So far this season, the Scott City baseball team has lived and died by the big inning.

There was the six-run fifth inning in a season-opening win over Portageville, and four-and six-run innings in their next win over Woodland.

Then New Madrid County Central plated six in the sixth inning while handing the Rams their first loss.

So why would Thursday be any different?

The Rams erupted for five runs in the bottom of the third, wiping out an early deficit and beating East Prairie 6-4.

Scott City starter Ryan Brock pitches to an East Prairie batter during the fifth inning Thursday in Scott City. (Fred Lynch)

Catcher Ryan Fortner had the big blow, a two-run double over the third base bag that broke a 2-2 tie and sent the Rams to their third win in four games.

"It's gotta happen eventually," said Fortner, who also doubled and scored on consecutive wild pitches in the fifth inning as part of his 2-for-3 performance at the plate. "We know we'll hit the ball eventually. We finally broke through out there. Everybody was hitting the ball. That's good to see."

"We've had one big inning pretty much every game we've had," added Scott City starter Ryan Brock, who benefitted from the outburst to improve to 2-0 on the season.

Brock allowed single runs to the Eagles in the second and third innings.

Rams designated hitter Trevor Job led off the bottom of the third with a walk. One out later, Travis Phillips walked and Forrest Copeland laid down a perfect bunt, beating the throw to first to load the bases. Brett Dirnberger then lifted a fly ball to center, which was dropped for an error, Job and Phillips scoring to tie the game 2-2. Fortner followed with a double over the third base bag that rolled into the left-field corner, plating both Phillips and Copeland. A wild pitch moved Fortner to third, and he scored on a balk by East Prairie starter Tyler Gilmore.

Scott City’s Forrest Copeland lays down a bunt against East Prairie during the third inning Thursday in Scott City. Copeland reached base safely and later scored. (Fred Lynch)

"That's what we've been trying to avoid," East Prairie coach Gary Scott said about the big inning. "That's cost us a couple times already this year."

The cushion seemed to help Brock, who settled down after a shaky start. East Prairie (0-5) had base runners in each of the first six innings, but Brock was equal to the task. With runners at the corners and none out in the third, he started a nifty double play by gloving Mason Douglas' ankle-high liner up the middle, then quickly threw to third to double off Mark Marcum. A throwing error on Fortner allowed one run to score, but Brock worked out of the jam by getting Brett Ellis on a called third strike to end the inning.

In the fourth, with a runner at second, Brock struck out both Robbie Carden and Gilmore, the latter swinging over the top of a nasty curve ball for the third out. In the fifth, with runners on first and second, Brock induced Seth Johnson to ground meekly to short to quash another rally.

"I had to battle through it," Brock admitted. "I've had some control issues, usually in the first couple innings. After that, I seem to settle down."

"He was on for the most part," Fortner said of his battery mate. "There were a couple of rough patches. When he's getting his curveball over for strikes, it adds a whole new dynamic to it. It makes him tough to hit."

Brock -- who was charged with three runs (none earned) on three hits while walking six and striking out seven -- gave way to Eric Uhrhan with one out in the sixth after a walk to Gilmore put runners at first and second. Uhrhan coaxed a popup from Marcum and struck out Dustin Bryars. Uhrhan then struck out the side in the seventh, getting Ellis looking at a sweeping curve to end the game.

"He's the quintessential battler," Scott City coach Lance Amick said about Brock. "It's not always pretty for seven innings. But he's a competitive kid, and someone I want in my foxhole when things are going bad.

"And Uhrhan ... he came in and threw strikes, and he had his breaking ball working. When you can throw two pitches for strikes, you're going to be very competitive in high school baseball."

Gilmore took the loss, going the distance and allowing six runs -- just one was earned -- on four hits, walking four and striking out six.

"Tyler threw the ball great tonight," Scott said. "That one bad inning was it. They had a couple plays that was the difference in the game. For the most part, I thought we held them in check."

East Prairie 011 000 0 -- 3 3 1

Scott City 005 010 x -- 6 4 3

WP: Ryan Brock (2-0). LP: Tyler Gilmore. S: Eric Uhrhan. 2B: Brett Ellis (EP), Ryan Fortner 2 (SC). Multiple hits -- Scott City: Fortner 2-3. East Prairie: Brett Ellis 2-4. Records: East Prairie 0-5, Scott City 3-1.