Top-seeded Jackson blanks Kelly in quarterfinal contest

Jackson capitalized on Kelly's missed opportunity in the second inning to come away with a 4-0 win in a quarterfinal game of the SEMO Conference baseball tournament Saturday at Kelly.

The top-seeded Indians will face No. 4 Notre Dame in a semifinal game at 3 p.m. Monday at Capaha Park. Third-seeded Central will face No. 2 Sikeston in the other semifinal at 5 p.m.

The eight-seeded Hawks led off the top of the second with a pair of singles and moved up to second and third on a wild pitch with no outs. Jackson starter Tyler Beussink struck out Russell Carroll looking, but walked the next batter to load the bases.

Beussink came back to win a tough battle with No. 9 hitter Blake Hooper, as Jackson catcher Zach Brazer held on to a fouled third strike. Caleb Daughetee grounded out to first basemen Brandon Gendron to end the threat.

"We were lucky to get out of that situation in tact," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "If it goes a different way, who knows how the game ends up?"

After wiggling their way out of trouble, the Indians bounced back with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning. A hit batsman, an infield single, a groundout and an error helped lead to the runs. Beussink helped himself with an RBI in the inning.

Kelly coach Cory Johnson said missed opportunities have been costing the Hawks all season.

"We've really shot ourselves in the foot as far as having opportunities and not taking advantage of them," he said.

The two runs were all Beussink needed, as the Indians senior lowered his ERA to 0.41. In 34 innings, Beussink has allowed only two earned runs.

Over the final five frames Beussink allowed just one hit -- which came with two outs in the third -- and struck out six. Overall, Beussink allowed four hits, struck out nine and walked two, as he improved to 5-0.

"He really settled down," Crosnoe said. "It's been a while since he threw. I think that's the reason he got better as the game went along."

Added Johnson: "He threw the ball well. He was all over the plate all day long. He made good pitches when he had to. I was a little disappointed the way we approached the plate."

Jackson added a run in the third on an RBI single by Brandon Gendron to drive in Jason Meystedt. Meystedt reached second with a one-out double, the only extra base hit of the game.

The Indians' final run came with the help of some aggressive baserunning. Derrick Biri led off the fifth with a walk and stole second. After Meystedt accepted walk, Biri scored on an error on a double steal.

Jackson's defense was sparkling behind Beussink. The Indians did not commit an error, as nearly every fielder got into the act.

"They were putting the ball in play, and we made the plays," Crosnoe said. "That was the difference of the game."

Danny Wilson took the loss, pitching three innings for the Hawks. Wilson allowed three hits, struck out three and allowed two earned runs. Carroll and Kendal Deason closed out the game for the Hawks on the mound.

The loss was the second for the Hawks against Jackson this week. Jackson routed Kelly 13-3 in six innings at Kelly on Monday.

"We knew we were a better team than we showed on Monday," Johnson said. "Our focus wasn't there Monday."

In order to claim its first SEMO Conference tournament title, Jackson will have to win two games on Monday. If the Indians defeat Notre Dame in the semifinal game, they will play for the championship game at 7:30 p.m.

"What I told the guys before the game is we have to look at this as kind of a district tournament," Crosnoe said. "It's preparing us more for the mindset of what it's going to be like in district."

Kelly will be back in action Tuesday when the Hawks host Class 1 runner-up Oran.

"We've got to stay positive," Johnson said. "That's the main thing right now."

JACKSON 4, KELLY 0

Kelly 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

Jackson 021 010 X -- 4 4 0

WP -- Tyler Beussink, 5-0. LP -- Danny Wilson. 2B -- Jason Meystedt (J). Records -- Jackson 13-1, Kelly 6-7.