Bernie suffers 7-6 extra-inning loss to softball powerhouse Scott City

SCOTT CITY, Mo. - The Bernie Mules varsity softball program gave one of the top teams in the region a run for its money Thursday afternoon.

Scott City, which placed third in Missouri last season, needed extra innings to dispose of Bernie 7-6 Thursday.

The eight-inning classic ended when Bella Bowers collected a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning that plated Jamie Glastetter.

"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," Scott City coach Lance Ammick said. "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. 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."

Bernie and Scott City both collected 10 hits and combined to calculate 11 extra-base hits, including four home runs in a game that was moved to the offensively friendly Scott City city park because of wet weather conditions.

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

Bernie took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Addie Shelton hit a one-out double to left field and Madi Corbin followed with an RBI single.

An RBI single by Scott City senior Liz Hensley tied things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning.

Bernie added two unearned runs in the top of the third inning to move back on top 3-1.

Scott City took its first lead at 5-3 in the bottom of the third inning when it calculated four runs on solo home runs by Bowers and Hensley, an RBI triple to Lexi Henneka and RBI double by Kristen Kirker.

An RBI double by Blakely Bradshaw cut Scott City's lead to 5-4 in the top of the fifth inning.

Hensley hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to pad Scott City's lead to 6-4.

Bernie No. 9 hitter Lari Spitzer hit a one-out solo homer in the top of the sixth inning to trim the deficit to 6-5.

Bernie extended the game to extra innings after Mabree Stone collected a two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to tie things up at 6-6.

Michaela Kiefer picked up a win in the circle and had one strikeout. She retired all three batters in the only inning she pitched - the top of the eighth.

Bradshaw allowed 10 hits and took the loss for Bernie. She struck out two and walked three in 7 2/3 innings of work.

Morgan Baker finished 2 for 5 at the plate for Bernie.

Scott City, which has won three straight games, improves to 5-2 with the victory.

Bernie (2-2) visits defending SCAA Tournament champion Advance Monday.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Bernie first baseman Madi Corbin dives for a ball in the second inning Thursday at Scott City city park.

Scott City 7, Bernie 6

BHS 102 011 10 - 6 10 0

SCS 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.

Note: The Southeast Missourian provided information for this report.

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Bernie's Morgan Baker and Scott City baserunner Lexi Henneke look to the umpire for the call in the fifth inning against Bernie, Thursday, April 2, 2015, in Scott City. Henneke was out at third. Scott City won 7-6 in eight innings.

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