Mules advance in SEMO tournament with strong win over NMCC

The Poplar Bluff Mules wasted no time getting out of the first round of this year’s Semo Conference baseball tournament.

Junior Noah Spain collected three hits in three at-bats as the Mules defeated New Madrid County Central 16-1 on Friday at Poplar Bluff High School. Spain singled in the second inning, tripled in the fourth inning and singled in the third inning.

NMCC got on the board in the first inning after Brady Swims singled, scoring one run.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Mules caught fire with their first time at bat and snagged the lead after Kolby Greenwall singled, Kade Huffman grounded out, and Marcus Tabanera singled, each scoring one run.

The Mules kept the pressure on against NMCC and added three runs in the second after Spain singled.

Poplar Bluff scored eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning. Rylan Seesengood singled, scoring one run, Myles Johnson drew a walk, scoring one run, Greenwall singled, scoring two runs, Huffman singled, scoring two runs, Bryce Dobbs drew a walk, scoring one run, and Dylan Bratcher singled, scoring one run.

Jackson Beis earned the win for Mules at the top of the mound. The starting pitcher allowed four hits and one run (zero earned) over four innings, striking out one and walking five. Ayden McCanless took the loss for NMCC. The starting pitcher went two and one-third innings, giving up 11 runs (10 earned) on six hits, striking out none and walking six.

The Mules redeemed themselves from their last matchup at the plate and accumulated 11 hits in the game. Greenwall and Huffman each drove in three runs, while Bratcher paced Poplar Bluff with two walks.

Tabanera, Greenwall, Bratcher and Spain each stole multiple bases for the Mules and collected 14 overall.

Swims led NMCC with one run batted in. The third baseman went 2-for-2 on the day.

Next up for Poplar Bluff is a game against the winner of Dexter/Notre Dame on Saturday at Jackson.