INDIANS MUZZLE 'DOGS; JACKSON HANDS FIRST LOSS TO NOTRE DAME 5-2

After opening the baseball season against each other, Jackson and Notre Dame squared off again Tuesday at Notre Dame.

The game appeared to be a reversal of the first game that Notre Dame won 9-0. This time, Jackson's Christopher Leimer pitched an outstanding game and the Bulldogs committed several costly errors to fall for the first time this year 5-2.

"This time we got a couple hits and they (Notre Dame) made the miscues we made last time," said Jackson coach Sam Sides.

Leimer threw a one-hitter to lead the Indians to their third win in a row, improving Jackson to 5-2. Chris Canfield threw well for Notre Dame after a shaky start as the Bulldogs fell to 6-1.

"I bet this is the sloppiest game we've played in two years," said Notre Dame coach Gregg Muench. "We just came out flat and were not motivated."

The Bulldogs may have been lacking motivation, but the Indians -- behind the right arm of Leimer -- seemed ready to pay back Notre Dame for their season-opening loss. Leimer was in command the entire game, striking out seven while walking only three. Both of the Notre Dame runs in the fourth inning were unearned. The Bulldogs' only hit of the game, an infield single, also came in the inning.

"If he goes over three walks, or hits a couple batters, then sometimes we're in trouble," Sides said of Leimer. "He had good control, he challenged people and worked a little faster on the mound. That's two good games in a row he's pitched."

Leimer improved to 3-0 on the mound. Canfield (2-1) was touched for five runs in the first four innings.

"He (Leimer) threw a good game, but Chris gave up only five hits and when you throw a five-hitter, you shouldn't lose," Muench said. "We did not play the way we've played the first six games."

Three Bulldog errors and a wild pitch led to four of the Indians' five runs. Jackson's Jarod Suedekum had the only RBI for the Indians with a first-inning single to score Justin Gladish. Suedekum scored later in the inning on a throwing error to put Jackson up 2-0.

Zane McClard opened the second inning with a double and, following a sacrifice bunt by Mike Gross, scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0.

With two outs in the third and runners on second and third, Jackson had an opportunity to break the game open. But Notre Dame's Trent Summers made a diving catch of a Brock Friedrich line drive in center field to end the threat.

McClard, who went 2-for-3, started the fourth inning for Jackson with another double, which led to two more runs for Jackson. Both of the runs were unearned as two more Bulldog throwing errors put Notre Dame in a 5-0 hole.

The Bulldogs got those two runs back in the bottom of the fourth with the help of two errors by Jackson. With one out, Nathan McGuire reached second when his flyball to right field was dropped. Leimer struck out Summers for what looked like the second out of the inning, but the ball got away from the catcher and Summers reached safely.

A wild throw by Leimer to first on a pickoff play scored McGuire and Summers scored from third on a Josh Eftink groundout.

With two out, Ben Gosche followed Eftink with an infield single up the middle to account for the Bulldogs' only hit of the game.

Following the varsity game, Notre Dame's junior varsity won a thrilling 4-3 decision over Jackson.

Brian Obermann (4-0) struck out out the final two Jackson batters with the bases loaded to secure the win. Obermann pitched all seven innings for the win, allowing just three hits.

Griffan Ruetzel had two hits and three RBI to lead Notre Dame (6-1) offensively. The Bulldogs' JV will play at home Saturday morning against New Madrid before the varsity game scheduled for 1 p.m.