JACKSON NIPS ND 4-3 IN OPENER

JACKSON, Mo. -- In a season opener for both teams, the Jackson Indians wasted little time in closing a recent chapter of Notre Dame domination on the baseball diamond.

On a cool Monday afternoon at Jackson's Legion Field, the Indians hung on for a 4-3 victory over the visiting Bulldogs.

"It's been at least five years since we've beat them," said Jackson coach Sam Sides. "So that was a big win for us."

The Indians got a workmanlike outing from pitcher Lance Limbaugh, who went the distance allowing 10 hits and striking out six. Backing him up was a flawless Indian defense, committing no errors and turning in some nice plays, particularly on several wind-blown fly balls and pop-ups.

All of Jackson's scoring came early as the Indians picked up three runs in the second inning and one in the third.

In the second, Jason Brown, the Indians' designated hitter, blooped an opposite-field double down the left-field line and scored on catcher Brad Berry's two-out double to put Jackson up 1-0.

The next batter, Michael Birk, singled up the middle to send Berry home with the Indians' second run. Birk took second on the throw home and promptly stole third. When Notre Dame catcher Kyle Dively's throw sailed high, Birk trotted home to send the Indians to a 3-0 lead.

Jackson tacked on the eventual game-winner in the third, triggered by a leadoff double by shortstop Bryan Austin, who advanced to third on a groundout by pitcher Lance Limbaugh and scored on another Bulldog error.

"The mistakes we made were mental mistakes," said Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett. "The first three innings were pretty sloppy. After that we played pretty good baseball."

Notre Dame's Andrew Depeder, who went 3-for-4, doubled in the fourth and later scored to narrow the gap to 4-1. Depeder also scored in the sixth on a RBI single by Scott Wittenborn as the Bulldogs cut the lead to 4-2.

The Bulldogs threatened again in the seventh. Notre Dame's Shane Kistner led off with a slow roller to short for a base hit and stole second. John O'Rourke then sent a long, high drive to center field that looked like it might leave the park, but a strong wind held it up and allowed Garrett Williams to make the catch.

Depeder later singled in Kistner for the final Bulldog run, but Limbaugh induced Timmy Wencewicz to ground into a force at second to end the game.