Sikeston trounces Dexter in five innings

DEXTER, Mo. - A leadoff triple by Sikeston's Trey Smith in the top of the first inning was the first sign of trouble for the Dexter Bearcats baseball team Tuesday afternoon.

The hits never stopped coming the rest of the way as Sikeston recorded 15 hits and scored at least one run in every inning it batted.

The end result was a 15-2 five-inning, run-rule victory for the Bulldogs.

"We saw some good pitches to hit," Sikeston coach Alan Scheeter said. "They were keeping us off-balance with the curveball a little bit, but we were able to make a couple good swings on curveballs. Our hitters were able to put the ball in play today and find holes. We have been swinging it well recently, and today we had a bit of an outburst. It cannot come at a better time because we've got a big week ahead of us."

Sikeston sent nine hitters to the plate in the top of the first inning. The Bullldogs tallied four runs in the frame.

Wyatt Pratt recorded the first RBI when he followed Smith's triple with a single. McKenzie Worth picked up an RBI later in the inning when he drew a bases-loaded walk with nobody out. Josh Stinnett drove home two more runs with one out when he hit a ball behind the second base bag that wasn't fielded cleanly.

"There in the top of the first Jacob couldn't locate his fastball," Dexter coach Brian Becker said. "When you get behind 2-0 to most of your batters they are going to take advantage and Sikeston is a good enough hitting team as it is. You cannot dig yourself a hole and allow them to know exactly what is coming at them. He was able to get his breaking ball over a little bit and kind of limit the damage of what could have been a lot more runs in the first inning. Then he settled in and didn't do too bad of job after that. We just made a couple errors behind him in the middle innings and our hitters didn't hit the ball well the entire game, which is a credit to the lefty they threw."

Sikeston added a run in the second, three runs in the third, six runs in the fourth and a run in the fifth inning for its 15-run total.

Sikeston's Brandon Hurt delivers a pitch to Dexter in the first inning Tuesday, April 12, 2016, in Dexter, Mo. Sikeston beat Dexter 15-2 in five innings. (Dustin Ward, SMNS)

Sikeston's Brandon Hurt delivers a pitch to Dexter in the first inning Tuesday, April 12, 2016, in Dexter, Mo. Sikeston beat Dexter 15-2 in five innings. (Dustin Ward, SMNS)

Sikeston cleanup hitter Blake Wolferding finished 3 for 4 with a team-high four RBIs. He drove home a runner from third base when he grounded out in the second inning, collected a two-RBI single in the third inning and added an RBI single in the fourth inning.

Wyatt Pratt finished 4 for 5 with three singles, a double and three RBIs. Pratt had RBI singles in the first, third and fourth innings. Smith went 3 for 4 with an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning.

"It's one of those things where if the top doesn't get it done the bottom will and vice versa," Scheeter said of his offense. "If we can get them all going as strong as they can be at the same time we will be pretty tough to contend with. And today the top of the lineup saw it well."

Dexter tallied a run in the first and second innings.

The Bearcats scored its first run after Trevor McDonald drew a leadoff walk, Jason Jarrell followed with a single that moved McDonald to first base and Chandler Young grounded into a double play to plate McDonald.

Dexter added its second run when when Jacob Pedigo reached base on an infield error, advanced to third base on a single by Hunter Parrott and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordan Wood.

Wood continued his hot streak at the plate. The senior slugger had a sacrifice fly and single in his only two plate appearances.

"Not bad," Becker said of Wood. "He missed a couple games because he had to work one day and had to take the ACT test another day. He found his way back in the lineup today because Riley Mason got sick and had to leave school. Once again, he took advantage of his opportunity today."

Brandon Hurt collected the victory for Sikeston. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two in four innings of work. Wolferding pitched a scoreless bottom of the fifth inning for Sikeston.

"Hurt did a really good job," Scheeter said. "He's been really, really effective. He's a left-hander that throws a knuckleball and curveball. To be honest, we could have let him finish it or pulled him out one inning earlier. We've got a lot of baseball this week with five games in five days and I was trying to save arms for the weekend."

Dexter used three pitchers.

Pedigo allowed eight runs in a three-inning start. Parrott allowed six runs in the top of the fourth inning and Tyler Heil allowed one run in the top of the fifth inning.

Sikeston (8-3) visits Kennett Wednesday.

Dexter (5-9) visits New Madrid County Central Thursday.

"New Madrid has some talent down there," Becker said. "Coach McClarty does a great job with them. It should be a battle."

Sikeston 413 61 -- 15 15 1

Dexter 110 00 -- 2 3 3

WP - Brandon Hurt. LP - Jacob Pedigo. 3B - Trey Smith (S), Sam Cox (S). 2B - Wyatt Pratt (S). Multiple hits - Sikeston: Smith 3-4, Pratt 4-5, Blake Wolferding 3-4, Josh Stinnett 2-3, Camden Sapp 2-3.