Jackson baseball team hands first home loss to Notre Dame

The Jackson baseball team is having a strong season, but coach Tatum Kitchen said early offense has not been among the Indians' strengths.

Jackson had no trouble in that area Thursday as the Indians notched arguably their most impressive win so far.

The Indians scored two first-inning runs, led 5-0 after three innings and handed host Notre Dame just its second loss of the year with an 8-2 pounding.

"The biggest thing for us is hitting the ball early. When we've struggled we haven't hit early," Kitchen said. "Today we got a lead and that takes the pressure off."

Jackson improved to 9-4 overall and 3-1 in SEMO Conference play. Notre Dame fell to 13-2 overall and 4-1 in league play with its first home loss of the season.

Jackson's Cody Harris, right, is met by Ryan O'Rear, left, and Steven Eddy after hitting a two-run homer against Notre Dame in the third inning Thursday, April 11, 2013 at Notre Dame Regional High School. (Fred Lynch)

"It was a good game for us," senior shortstop Laban Petzoldt said. "We've been hitting in the morning at 6 o'clock every day, and it finally paid off. It felt like we were steady [offensively] all the way through."

Jackson finished with 10 hits, including its first home run of the season and three doubles. None of the hits were soft.

"We hit the ball very well," Kitchen said.

Senior third baseman Cody Harris got the Indians off to a strong start with a two-run, two-out single in the first inning.

That came after the first two batters were retired. Senior first baseman Kyle James was hit by a pitch, and Petzoldt doubled before Harris delivered.

Notre Dame right fielder Cody DeBrock hauls in a Jackson fly ball during the first inning.

Harris belted a two-run, two-out homer to left-center field in the third inning, part of a three-run uprising as Jackson opened up a 5-0 lead. Harris said it was his first varsity home run.

"I've kind of been struggling. It's nice to break out. I hope it continues," Harris said. "It's always good to get out on a team early. We've had a tendency to start out flat."

In addition to Harris going 2 for 3 with four RBIs and two runs scored, Petzoldt went 2 for 3 with two doubles and two runs scored. Both also reached base on a walk.

Junior catcher Jordan Hadden went 2 for 4 with a double. Senior center fielder Lane Thompson added two RBIs.

"It was one of those days," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "They really hit the ball."

Jackson starter Steven Eddy throws to a Notre Dame batter during the second inning Thursday at Notre Dame Regional High School. Eddy allowed one run over six innings to record the win in Jackson’s 8-2 victory. (Fred Lynch)

While Jackson came alive offensively, senior Steven Eddy kept Notre Dame's bats in check.

Eddy allowed five hits and one run over six innings as he improved to 4-1. He struck out four, walked four and hit a batter.

"It's easy to pitch with a lead," Eddy said. "My changeup was working. It tends to be my best pitch when my curveball is not working."

Senior second baseman Ryan O'Rear moved to the mound to pitch the seventh inning. He allowed junior center fielder Josh Haggerty's first varsity home run, which rounded out the day's scoring.

"I was wanting to finish it off, but I was getting a bit sore," said Eddy, who had no qualms about Kitchen's decision to bring in O'Rear.

Jackson’s Cody Harris singles in two runs against Notre Dame in the first inning.

Said Kitchen about Eddy: "He missed some spots, but he threw really well. I was very pleased."

Eddy, the losing pitcher to Notre Dame in last year's SEMO Conference tournament championship game, wriggled out of two jams to keep the Indians in control.

Notre Dame, trailing 5-0, loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning and loaded them again with one out in the fifth inning. The Bulldogs failed to score both times.

"You ask for opportunities. ... We just didn't come through today. We've been coming up with the big hit," Graviett said. "We've been swinging the bats well. You have to give him [Eddy] some credit."

Hadden doubled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning to make it 6-0.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, but Jackson all but iced the victory on Thompson's two-run single in the seventh inning.

Junior Ross James took the loss, allowing five runs and five hits in three innings.

"We've been talking all year about how good our pitching has been," said Graviett, whose squad entered the day with a 1.54 ERA. "He [James] just struggled today. He couldn't hit his spots."

Sophomore Graham Ruopp limited Jackson to one run over the next three innings. He also was charged with a run in the seventh inning. Senior Justin Landewee allowed the Indians' final run after relieving Ruopp.

Ruopp allowed three hits in three-plus innings. He struck out three but walked five.

"I thought he did a good job," Graviett said.

Haggerty and Landewee, Notre Dame's shortstop, each had two of the Bulldogs' six hits. Haggerty's homer was Notre Dame's lone extra-base hit.

"We played throughout the game about as good as we have all year," Kitchen said.

Graviett said he didn't like Notre Dame's energy from the start but commended Jackson.

"I give them all the credit in the world. They just came out and beat us," he said.

Notre Dame returns to action today against Farmington.

"Let this be the bottom of our season. We'll try to bounce back [today]," Graviett said.

Jackson 203 001 2 -- 8 10 2

Notre Dame 000 001 1 -- 2 6 3

WP -- Steven Eddy. LP -- Ross James. HR -- Cody Harris (J), Josh Haggerty (ND). 2B -- Laban Petzoldt (J) 2, Jordan Hadden (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson: Harris 2-3, Petzoldt 2-3, Hadden 2-4. Notre Dame: Haggerty 2-4, Justin Landewee 2-3. Records -- Jackson 9-4, Notre Dame 13-2.