Drury throws three-hitter, blasts HR in ND's win

~ The Bulldogs improved to 15-0 with a 5-0 victory Tuesday against Sikeston.

A double smashed into left field with one out in the top of the fifth inning ended Notre Dame pitcher Dylan Drury's no-hit bid against Sikeston on Tuesday.

That was one of the few mistakes Drury made as the right-hander tossed a three-hit shutout and smashed his fifth home run in the Bulldogs' 5-0 win over SEMO Conference rival Sikeston at Notre Dame Regional High School.

"It's not the best my arm has felt or my fastball has been, but this is the best all my pitches have worked together," Drury said. "I threw all four [pitches] for strikes."

Drury, whose repertoire consists of a fastball, curveball, changeup and slider, improved his record to 5-0 and lowered his ERA to 1.80.

Notre Dame center fielder Austin Greer tracks a long fly ball. Greer made a diving catch for the out.

The senior struck out seven batters, recorded nine outs on fly balls and saw his defense turn in some nice plays.

"He was able to stay ahead of hitters," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "But also, I felt comfortable -- going to 2-2 counts with hitters -- that he could come back and throw strikes. The last few starts for him he had trouble making those type pitches."

Notre Dame improved to 15-0 with the victory, and pitching depth has been a key to the Bulldogs' perfect run.

Notre Dame has had seven pitchers make starts and five pitchers record at least one victory. The rotation had a combined 1.85 ERA before Tuesday's game.

"You think Colton [Young] and Dylan -- the top two -- and that's pretty much it, but we go four or five pitchers deep," Graviett said. "Sometimes we need them. Sometimes we don't. But it would be nice to play a big-league type schedule with these guys because when you start matching some of our No. 3 and 4 guys up against others, I think we'd hold our own."

Sikeston first baseman Darin Dicus takes a pickoff throw as Notre Dame's Jake Pewitt returns safely to first during Tuesday's game at Notre Dame (Kit Doyle)

Drury said the depth has strengthened the bullpen. Graviett hasn't hesitated in using Young and Drury, who have combined for 10 starts, as relievers. Young has recorded two saves and Drury was warming in the bullpen before the seventh inning at Scott City last week when Young started and went the distance.

"As a starting pitcher you know that if you can't make it all seven innings you've got some good guys coming behind you, with Jeremy [Essner] and Brandon [Peters] and Trent [St. Cin] in relief," Drury said. "And then they can come out and start games, too, and they've done an awesome job so far this year."

Notre Dame catcher Mark Hagedorn added: "There's about six guys I feel comfortable that can go out and get a win every day."

Notre Dame has showed strong defense, too. The Bulldogs have committed only 16 errors in 15 games.

The defense again looked strong against Sikeston (6-7). Center fielder Austin Greer tracked down a drive in right-center as he angled toward the fence during the fifth inning, right fielder Jake Pewitt also made a nice catch when he had to hustle back on a ball during the sixth, and Hagedorn made a diving catch on a foul ball hit down the first-base line during the third.

"I just saw it and ran after it," Hagedorn said about his grab. "We've got solid guys on the field and on the bench, so we're not too worried about [defense] usually."

Notre Dame scored two runs off Sikeston starter Blair Bohannon in the bottom half of the first on a hit and an error.

"We just stayed back on him, and coming off a big wood bat tournament, coach Graviett told us to hit like we were doing with the wood," said Pewitt, who had a hit, reached on an error, stole two bases and scored two runs.

The Bulldogs scored two more runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. Drury accounted for one of the runs with a solo home run to right-center field that helped raise his batting average to .436.

"I guess I was just trying to get on base, and I put a good swing on it and it went out," Drury said.

Notre Dame faces another SEMO Conference rival today when Jackson visits for a 4 p.m. contest.

Sikeston 000 000 0 -- 0 3 3

Notre Dame 202 010 X -- 5 5 1

WP -- Dylan Drury, 5-0. LP -- Blair Bohannon. HR -- Drury (ND). 2B -- Jordan Williams (S). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame: Austin Greer 2-4. Records -- Notre Dame 15-0, Sikeston 6-7.