'DOGS GET SHORT END OF PITCHING DUEL 2-0

With all the wet weather in the area, it had been nine days since the Poplar Bluff High baseball team last played a game.

Monday afternoon at Notre Dame, the Mules' bats looked like it -- striking out 13 times against Bulldogs' pitcher Keith Hamm. But the well-rested arm of Poplar Bluff pitcher Andy Cisne struck out 11 Bulldogs on the way to a 2-0 victory.

The victory was Poplar Bluff's second over the Bulldogs this season, improving the Mules to 5-6 overall and 3-3 in the SEMO Conference. Last year, Poplar Bluff had just a 4-13 record. Notre Dame fell to 10-6 and 2-4.

Cisne, headed to Southeast Missouri State University on a football scholarship as a quarterback, got out of jams in the second, third and fourth innings, then allowed only one Bulldog baserunner the rest of the way. He allowed only four hits and two walks.

"I got exactly what I needed from Andy," said Poplar Bluff coach Pat Carda. "I had to have somebody come out and shut them down and that's what he did.

"He threw strikes and when he got in trouble he got out of it."

Notre Dame had a baserunner thrown out trying to score in the second and stranded five runners in the third and fourth innings combined.

The Bulldogs had runners on second and third base with one out in the third inning and in the fourth had the same situation with no outs. Cisne eventually loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth before getting out of the inning with a fielder's choice.

"He threw a good game," said Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench. "His ball was moving a lot."

Hamm also had an impressive day on the mound, allowing only four hits and three walks, but single runs in the fourth and sixth innings were enough for the Mules to hold on.

"Keith threw a great game," Muench said. "When you give up two runs you expect to get a run or two (on offense), but we just couldn't hit the ball with men on base."

Poplar Bluff also had problems driving in runs. The Mules' first run was scored on a bases-loaded walk and the second run on a sacrifice fly following a throwing error on an attempted pickoff play that moved a Mule baserunner from first to third.

After walking in the first run of the game, Hamm settled down to strike out three consecutive batters and get out of the inning. He also struck out the side in the fifth inning.

"It's been nine days since we've actually done anything," Carda said. "I knew we'd strike out a lot."

Notre Dame goes to Perryville today to play St. Vincent.