Scott City softball team edges Bernie 7-6 in eight innings

An eight-inning thriller was exactly the type of game Scott City softball coach Lance Amick wanted to see.

Jamie Glastetter scored Bella Bowers on a two-out RBI single that was driven into right field, and the Rams came away with a 7-6 win over Bernie in walk-off fashion Thursday at Scott City Park.

"Any situation where you can put your kids in a little pressure early in the season is big because at the end of the day, it's a marathon. This is just one small step in it, so if you come out not where you want, hopefully you can learn from it and move on," Amick said. "We obviously won the game here, and we can't let that go too high either. Hopefully you take something from that experience and keep moving forward."

Overnight rains forced the game to be moved from the high school to the city park. The combination of swirling winds and a smaller outfield helped provide plenty of offense as both teams combined for 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs.

"It was a well-played game, a lot of balls hit hard today," Amick said. "Both sides made some competitive plays ... The wind was blowing out, a lot of offense."

After Addie Shelton hit a one-out double into left field, Madi Corbin provided an RBI single to give Bernie (2-2) a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Scott City's Liz Hensley rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against Bernie, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Scott City. Scott City won 7-6 in eight innings. (Laura Simon)

Scott City (5-2) answered in the bottom of the frame. Mules starting pitcher Blakely Bradshaw walked the first two batters she faced, and three batters later, Liz Hensley provided her first big hit of the day.

The senior first baseman lined a single across second base and into center field, scoring Glastetter to tie the game at 1-1.

"Liz is a senior, and she works hard," Amick said. "We have open gyms starting in December, and these girls make it a point. Most of them are at every one, and we've swung and swung and swung. They put the work in, and good things happen to people who work hard. ... They're committed to their craft, and it's nice to see them reap some benefits from it."

A two-out fielding error in the top of the third inning gave Bernie a 3-1 lead, but the Rams answered again in the bottom of the frame.

Bowers led off with a solo home run over the left-center field fence before Hensley followed suit three batters later, lifting a solo shot over the left-field fence on a full count to tie the game at 3-3.

"We talk about how offense is contagious, and hitting is definitely contagious. You see someone in front of you put a good hit on it, and Bella had a really good at-bat there and got a good swing on it," Amick said. "It just kind of went from there."

Scott City baserunner Valerie Bahr and Bernie first baseman Madi Corbin watch a pitch in the first inning, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Scott City. Scott City won 7-6 in eight innings. (Laura Simon)

The next batter, Tori Buckner, reached base after being hit by a pitch, and a two-out triple by Lexi Henneke sent Buckner across home plate. Kristen Kirker followed with an RBI double into right field, pushing Scott City's lead to 5-3.

"They say once somebody hits and starts it off, it just keeps going," Hensley said. "We almost went all the way through the lineup, so it just got contagious and we all caught it."

The Mules' Lari Spitzer led off the top of the fifth with a double into right-center field, and Bradshaw followed two batters later with a one-out single that fell just shy of clearing the left field fence. Spitzer scored on the play, and Bernie trailed 5-4.

Hensley led off the bottom of the inning with her second homer of the day, pushing the Rams' lead to 6-4.

"It felt great," said Hensley, who finished 3 for 4 at the plate. "I have all my teammates behind me and everything. ... We put in a lot of work over the offseason, and I think it's starting to pay off."

The Mules answered in the top of the sixth when Shianne Spitzer, the No. 9 batter, hit a one-out solo shot into left-center field that cut their deficit to 6-5.

Scott City coach Lance Amick chats with pitcher Jamie Glastetter during the fifth inning against Bernie, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Scott City. Scott City won 7-6 in eight innings. (Laura Simon)

After Scott City stranded two runners and was held scoreless in the bottom of the frame, Bernie was down to its final strike with Jescie McGuire at the plate.

McGuire singled up the middle to set up Mabree Stone, who provided an RBI double to tie the game at 6-6.

Amick said he was impressed with the way the Mules were able to keep their poise.

"It was a well-played game. You can hit the ball hard and not have a lot to show for it, then you bleed one down the third-base line and get a hit. That's part of it," Amick said. "Bernie's got a good program, and we feel fortunate to get away with a win, especially in the early season with a little pressure involved.

"It's always nice to come out on top of those, where you can get in a close game, gain some experience and feel what it's like to pull through."

Glastetter allowed 10 hits and six runs -- four earned -- in seven innings and had nine strikeouts and three walks before being relieved by Michaela Kiefer in the eighth inning.

Kiefer picked up the win in the circle and had one strikeout in a 1-2-3 inning of relief.

Scott City's Kristen Kirker, left, and Lexi Henneke, right, congratulate Skylar Rhymer on her play in the sixth inning against Bernie, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Scott City. Scott City won 7-6 in eight innings. (Laura Simon)

"Michaela came in in a tough situation in the eighth inning. It's hard to come in like that. She hadn't thrown a lot of pitches but came in and threw a lot of strikes, and we made some really good plays behind her," Amick said. "Jamie battled for seven innings and threw a lot of strikes. ... There weren't a lot of walks on both sides."

Bradshaw allowed 10 hits and took the loss for Bernie, striking out two and walking three in 7 2/3 innings.

"Their pitcher just kept throwing the ball. She never got fazed by any of those home runs, and a lot of pitchers, when that happens, will walk one or give up a hit then an error. Defensively, they'll get on their heels. But she kept pitching," Amick said about Bradshaw. "You've got to tip your hat to her. She kept throwing strikes, and they made a lot of good plays defensively."

The victory marks the third straight for the Rams, who advanced to the Class 1 final four last year before losing to eventual state champion Kennett in a 4-1 decision.

"We just come together as a team, and that's the best part. ... We just build each other up no matter what happens," Hensley said. "If there's an error made, we just build each other back up, and we get the next one. And it shows."

Bernie 102 011 10 -- 6 10 0

Scott City 104 010 01 -- 7 10 2

WP -- Michaela Kiefer. LP -- Blakely Bradshaw. HR -- Liz Hensley 2 (SC), Bella Bowers (SC), Shianne Spitzer (B). 3B -- Lexi Henneke (SC). 2B -- Kristen Kirker 2 (SC), Bowers (SC), Addie Shelton (B), Lari Spitzer (B), Mabree Stone (B). Multiple hits -- Bernie: Morgan Baker 2-5; Scott City: Hensley 3-4, Bowers 2-3, Kirker 2-4.