Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Cal Pederson of Fort Dodge fields a ground ball against Des Moines East on Wednesday at McNeil Field. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Take out two tough innings and the Fort Dodge baseball team could have walked away from Ed McNeil Field here Wednesday night with a sweep of Des Moines East.

But Dodger head coach Blake Utley knows that is not how the game is played.

The Scarlets took advantage of some FDSH miscues in both opening frames of the doubleheader, posting 9-5 and 13-9 victories.

“You just can’t start games out like that,” Utley said. “To the credit of the guys, they showed me a lot by battling back and not just rolling over. It’s pretty easy to (give up) down like we were.

“But we just can’t do that. We have to come out with a better mental approach, and if we are having troubles like we were, we have to minimize the damage.”

Des Moines East (2-11 overall) took advantage of three walked batters and another that was hit, scoring six runs in the first inning. Fort Dodge would walk seven in the game and hit another batter.

The Dodgers showed some life in the fifth of the opener, plating five runs thanks to a three-run homer by Karch Smith and an RBI triple from Tru McBride. Dalton Eckley also drove in a run during the frame.

Rylan Kingrey, Rylan Lara, Smith, McBride and Jace Johnson each scored a run. McBride had two hits. Bo Marsh drew two walks with a hit.

Making his first appearance of the season on the mound, senior Landen Hout pitched the final five innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits and one earned run.

“Landen gave us a great performance on the mound,” Utley said. “He came right in off the bench and pitched great.”

For East, Devin Holman earned the win, recording seven strikeouts over five innings while also driving in three on two hits. Kayden Johnson pitched two scoreless innings in relief, striking out three.

Tayte Warren stole three bases, scoring twice while driving in two more, and Johnathon Giefer had two runs scored.

In the nightcap, Bo Marsh had two RBI with a double, Johnson had drove in three and Jaxson Dencklau, Kingrey and Davis Underberg scored two runs.

Rylan Lara pitched six innings in relief, striking out three.

“We left too many batters on,” Utley said. “Again, Rylan came right in off the bench and did a great job.

“We’ve got some young kids that are going to have to learn as we play and I’m confident they will do that.”

Fort Dodge heads to Mason City on Thursday before playing Sioux City East and Sioux City West on Friday.

DES MOINES EAST 9, FORT DODGE 5

DM East 601 110 0 — 9 5 1

Fort Dodge 000 0500 0 — 5 6 3

WP–Devin Holman (1-2, 5 IP, 5 H, 5 ER, 7 K, 3 BB). LP–Jase Nekvinda (1-2, 2 IP, 3 H, 6 ER, 2 K, 4 BB).

HR–FD: Karch Smith. 3B–FD: Tru McBride. RBI–DME: Tayte Warren (2), Cale Root, Devin Holman (3); FD: Karch Smith (3), Tru McBride, Dalton Eckley. SB–DME: Tayte Warren (3), Bryce Dix, Caleb Enochs, Devin Holman. LOB–DME: 5; FD: 8.

DES MOINES EAST 13, FORT DODGE 9

DM East 901 010 2 — 13 14 0

Fort Dodge 033 020 1 — 9 8 1

WP–Kobe Kunert (1-3, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 1 BB). LP–Brayden Reimers (0-1, 1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 1 K, 2 BB).

HR–DME: Kobe Kunert. 2B–DME: Kobe Kunert (2), Johnathon Giefer; FD: Bo Marsh, Karch Smith. RBI–DME: Kobe Kunert (6), Johnathon Giefer, Bryce Dix, Devin Holman, Cale Kline, Seth Cipale, Cale Root, ; FD: Bo Marsh (2), Jaxton Dencklau, Rylan Kingrey, Tanner Peterson, Jace Johnson (3). SB–DME: Cale Root, Bryce Dix, Devin Holman; FD: Tanner Peterson, Dalton Eckley, Jaxson Dencklau. LOB–DME: 9; FD: 12.