Beussink, Brown team up for Jackson in shutout of ND

Tyler Beussink enjoys pitching against Notre Dame.

"I know a lot of guys that go to that school," Beussink said, "and I take pleasure in pitching against them."

The Jackson Indians took pleasure in Beussink's outing Tuesday afternoon at Jackson City Park. The junior allowed just one hit over 5 1/3 innings, and Kyle Brown finished off a 4-0 nonconference victory against the Bulldogs.

Jackson avenged a SEMO Conference loss to Notre Dame (7-4) in the first game of the season.

"When you don't hit, you don't win," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "They got the pitching and the defense, and you've got to credit them for that. Beussink kept us off balance."

Neither team had many hits -- Notre Dame finished with two; Jackson had five against Blake Urhahn -- but they had baserunners thanks to 10 walks and three hit batsmen.

Jackson (8-2)manufactured the only run it needed in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Derrick Biri was hit by a pitch and moved to second on an infield hit by Tyler Profilet. Trevor Thompson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Urhahn struck out Brandon Gendron, Zach Brazer's sacrifice bunt scored Biri.

Notre Dame nearly jumped ahead in the fourth inning. After Matt Wulfers accepted a four-pitch walk, two batters were retired on flyouts. Left-handed batter Dane Balsmann launched a drive into right field that was snared by Trey Busch at the fence.

Busch then came through for Jackson in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single to score Rex Meyr, making the score 2-0. Meyr had reached base on a single, stole second and moved to third on an errant pickoff throw by Urhahn.

Busch put the game away with a two-run double to left-center field in the sixth. The game's only extra-base hit brought home Neil Briner, pinch-running for Brazer, and Meyr.

Notre Dame's infield squelched other Jackson opportunities with two double plays, while Jackson made no errors and turned one when Brown relieved Beussink in the sixth.

The Indians played errorless defense.

"We had great pitching today and we were able to keep them from getting anything going," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "The defense played well and made the plays, and when you do that in high school baseball, you have a good chance to win."

Following Monday's win against North County and Tuesday's win against Notre Dame, Jackson tries for one more big victory this week when it hosts Sikeston on Thursday.