Sometimes wins aren't pretty.

Notre Dame is awfully thankful for that.

The host Bulldogs got the best of Scott City 5-1 in a game that saw seven errors committed.

Notre Dame got a huge lift from starting pitcher Cody Heisserer and costly errors by the Rams.

"It kind of epitomizes the way we've been playing," Scott City coach Lance Amick said. "We show those shades of being the team we're capable of being. Two things that nag us is we've been making too many errors and we can't get a hit when we needed to. We threatened. ... We couldn't find a way to get it done. A lot of that goes to Notre Dame being a good defense team, and they made plays. You got an animal on the mound like Heisserer who is capable of closing that gap that quick with a strikeout. That's a luxury he's got out there. He's got a powerful arm and he can get himself out of trouble as quick as he gets into it sometimes."

Heisserer certainly got himself into trouble in the first four innings, but Scott City stranded six runners to let the senior off the hook.

The Rams stacked the bases early by taking advantage of four Heisserer walks, but they failed to produce.

"I just mainly threw my fastball and offspeed and try to get a ground ball and let my defense help me," Heisserer said. "It's tough. The umpire squeezed me on some. You just have to battle and work through it all."

Heisserer finished with eight strikeouts and four walks.

"We need him four to one instead of two to one if he's going to be the type of pitcher we need," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "He struggled a little bit with control and created some of his own damage and pitched out of it for the most part today."

The Rams (4-6) added to their offensive problems with poor defense. Scott City committed four errors that led to four of the Bulldogs' five runs.

"When you get a window with an error or a walk or whatever, you have to take advantage of it at the high school level," Graviett said. "And I thought we did that today and came through, and that's the difference in the ballgame."

The errors spoiled an impressive start from Landon Robert. He allowed nine hits and walked one while striking out five over six innings.

"I was hitting the outside corner early on," Robert said. "He started calling it for me. Trying to keep the ball low, they're great hitters. They would hit my changeup, my curveball, [and] my fastball. If I misplaced it off an inch, they would hit it."

Amick lamented another loss for Robert despite a strong showing.

"That's two games in a row, against Chaffee and Notre Dame, that's two good teams and he's come out and just battled his tail off," Amick said. "At Chaffee we made the plays behind him and couldn't get the hits, and today we just couldn't make the plays behind him.

"He's kept people off balance. He's throwing his curve for a strike and he's spotting his fastball pretty good. If a high school pitcher can do that, they're going to keep you in most games."

Notre Dame (9-1) struck first in the bottom of the first on two base hits and an error.

The Bulldogs made it 2-0 in the second when Nick Essner reached on an error and Kyle Campbell doubled him home.

Scott City got one back in the top half of the third on two walks and an RBI single by Heath Pobst.

It was a rare bright spot offensively for Scott City.

"We're not hitting like I know we can, and it's frustrating," Robert said. "I can feel it. We need that one hit when we have runners on base, and right now we're not doing it."

Robert made the highlight play of the day in the bottom half of the fifth. Notre Dame was clinging to a 2-1 lead and Campbell reached base on a leadoff walk. He took second on a wild pitch and stole third an out later to set up a prime scoring opportunity.

Jon Lynch then hit a shot up the middle, but Robert snagged the liner and threw back to third to double off Campbell.

"Tremendous athletic play," Graviett said. "There's not too many kids around here that I think make that play. Landon Robert showed his athleticism not only to make that play, but he threw from his knees to double Kyle off. That's a tremendous play, and you're getting a little bit worried at that point."

Notre Dame finally broke it open in the sixth.

Heisserer and Chase Simmons hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Jesse Schott followed with a perfect bunt, and Robert threw it into right field attempting to make a play to make it 3-1.

A sacrifice fly and another error made it 5-1.

"That was big because it took pressure off our pitchers," Heisserer said. "The heart of their lineup was coming up, and they're pretty good hitters, so we just wanted to open it up a little bit."

Scott City 001 000 0 -- 1 5 4

Notre Dame 110 003 x -- 5 9 3

WP -- Cody Heisserer, 4-0. LP -- Landon Robert. 2B -- Austin Atchley (SC), Kyle Campbell (ND). Multiple hits -- Scott City: Ryan Fortner 2-3; Notre Dame; Justin Landewee 2-3, Chase Simmons 2-3. Records -- Scott City 4-6, Notre Dame 9-1.