The first-year East Newton American Legion baseball team learned another key lesson in the game of baseball Tuesday night.

When you have the opponent against the ropes, so to speak, it’s very advantageous to do something.

Trailing 2-0 when the top of the third inning started, the Rockets received an RBI single from Mark Enslow to score Taylor Hunt for the team’s first run.

Enslow’s hit also kept the bases loaded with two outs, but McDonald County’s Alex Arntfield buckled down and got his third strikeout of the inning.

After that it was all McDonald County as the team rolled up nine straight runs — three runs in three different innings — to pull out an 11-1 victory in American Legion District 15 action.

McDonald County picked up the sweep by winning 16-2 in the nightcap.

Post 392 (29-15) came back with three runs in the bottom of the third inning, all three aided by a pair of East Newton errors.

Travis Spears reached on a fielder’s choice, but on the throw to first base the ball went into the East Newton dugout, moving him to second base. Nick Wills walked and both moved up a base on a wild pitch.

Drew Pearcy delivered an RBI on an infield single, making it 3-1.

With two outs, Sy Morris lofted a fly ball to center field that was dropped, allowing Wills and Pearcy to score two runs.

Despite being down four runs, the Rockets didn’t lay down. A two-out double by Hunt was followed by Brodie Blackburn reaching on an error. Clayton Miller walked to load the bases, but Arntfield again bailed himself out by getting a strikeout to end the scoring threat.

Post 392 came back with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to spread its lead to 8-1. Bo Bergen and Jeb Clark drew walks to open the inning and then they both swiped a base on a double steal, moving into scoring position.

Spears hit a ground ball and the play went home, where Bergen slid in safely. Wills grounded out to second base to score Clark and Pearcy delivered a two-out RBI single to score Spears, making it 8-1.

McDonald County ended the game with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, this time scoring all three runs with two outs. Robert Cornell walked and Bergen was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the fifth inning. A line drive out moved Cornell to third base and then Bergen swiped second base, before another line drive had the inning in peril.

Spears hit a fly ball that was dropped in the outfield to allow two runs to score. Wills, Pearcy and Dakota Acuff then drew consecutive walks, with Acuff’s bringing in the game-ending run.

Ty Harris started for East Newton, which was playing its 12th game in seven days. Jake Simpson, Mason Whitman and Blake Dilbeck relieved Harris.

Arntfield threw all five innings for McDonald County, striking out five batters.

“Defensively, we have improved but we are still making errors that should be routine,” said East Newton coach Seth Johnson. “The boys are continuing to work hard. We have a tendency to make errors at the worse possible time … with two outs.”

He added, “We had the bases loaded two or three separate times, so our hitting as improved. In order to get to beat a good team you need to take advantage of situations like that with the bases loaded twice and I think, a runner on second and third base another time. A good team will take advantage of those situations.”

The victory in game one puts Post 392 at 4-4 in district play, while East Newton fell to 0-8.

McDonald County took advantage of East Newton’s tired arms in game two and romped to a 16-2 victory.

Kaleb Schlessman was the star of the day for Post 392 as he had an RBI double and a grand slam, driving in five runs. Kyle Smith had a single and drove in three runs for the team as well. Spencer Paul was 2-for-2 with 2 RBI, while Morris added two hits and an RBI.

Bryan Burnett added an RBI double for Post 392.

Charlie Bridenstine got the victory, striking out seven and walking one.

East Newton got an RBI groundout from Mason Whitman for its first run. Harris singled, stole two bases and scored on Tyler Harris’ RBI single in the fifth inning.

McDonald County returns to action Thursday playing a pair of five-inning doubleheaders at Carl Junction Post 781.