Early runs help Oran in 10-2 win over Scott City

sports@standard-democrat.com

ORAN -- In scoring five runs in the first inning of Wednesday's contest against Scott City, the Oran Eagles were able to put the visiting Rams in an early hole they couldn't dig out of.

Padding their lead in all but the second frame, the Eagles went on to pick up their sixth win of the season, 10-2.

"We did a good job running the bases and making things happen," Oran head coach Mitch Wood said. "(Scott City) made some mistakes and once you make mistakes like that it kind of costs you."

After allowing a leadoff double to Seth Ressel in the bottom of the first, the Rams looked like they might work out of the inning as they got a quick pair of outs.

Following a walk to Dalton Elfrink, however, Blake Carlyle singled in the first run of the game to open up a string of four straight hits that put the Eagles up 5-0.

With a single up the middle Adam Schaefer drove in the teams second run of the game before a double by Chance Tenkhoff drove in another two. Oran scored their only unearned run of the inning on a passed ball by the catcher that brought home Tenkhoff.

Trying to fight back, Scott City got on the board in the top of second frame when Ryan Fortner doubled to center field before scoring on a passed ball two at-bats later.

Unable to find much success against Oran starter pitcher Kody Moore, the Rams were shout out each of the next four innings while the Eagles strung together three one-run frames starting in the third.

Nearly winning by mercy rule, Oran took it's biggest lead of the contest in the sixth inning when an Elfink walk and successful bunt by Blake Caryle left runners of first and second.

Elfrink went on to score on a passed ball before a sacrifice fly from Tenkhoff left the Eagles one run shy of a mercy-rule win at 10-1. Though they went on to put the winning run at first, a strikeout at the bottom of the order forced a seventh frame.

Down to their final three outs, Fortner gave the Rams hope with a solo home run past the center field fence that represented Scott City's final run of the night.

Preventing further damage Moore picked up outs from three of next four Rams' batters to close out the game.

"Credit Oran," Rams' head coach Lance Amick said. "They're a good ball club. They came out with a good approach, hit the ball and capitalized on a few mistakes that we made. That's what good ball clubs do."

Picking up the win while moving the Eagles to 6-1 on the year, Moore went the full seven innings. He allowed both earned runs on six hits while striking out seven and not surrendering a walk.

"After our first three games we had walked 27," Wood said. "I told that bunch, and (Moore) is one of them, don't walk anybody and I promise you things will happen.

"A kid hit one out today and they got a couple of (other) hits, but with the new bats and different things if you just throw strikes you can make things happen."

With 12 hits on the game, Oran was led by Carlyle and Jacob Priggel as they each went 3 for 4 at the plate. Trenton Hency had a two-hit performance while Ressel and Tenkhoff each doubled.

A triple short of the cycle, Fortner did more than his fair share in the Rams' six-hit effort. Going 3 for 3, he crossed the plate twice fore the teams only two runs. Singles by Austin Atchley, McFall and Travis Phillips made up the rest of Scott City's offense.

On Fortner's day, Amick said, "We had some kids that I was disappointed with their effort. (They were) hanging their heads and things like that. I really think (Fortner) is one of them that played a full seven.

"I told him I was proud of that. He was hustling on and off the field and gave us a three solid at bats as far as his approach and stayed true to what he knows. You have to be proud of that effort."

The Rams now stand at 3-3 on the year and will host the Dexter Bearcats today at 4:30 p.m. Also today, Oran will host East Prairie at 4 p.m.

Scott City 010 000 1 - 2 6 1

Oran 501 112 x - 10 12 1

WP -- Kody Moore. LP -- Logan Henson. Multiple hitters: (SC) Ryan Fortner 3-3; (O) Blake Carlyle 3-4, Jacob Priggel 3-4, Trenton Hency 2-4. 2B -- (SC) Fortner; (O) Seth Ressel, Chance Tenkhoff. HR -- (SC) Fortner.