Lady Mules fall in thriller to Indians

The Poplar Bluff Lady Mules pushed the visiting and state-ranked Jackson Lady Indians to the brink on Tuesday but despite the 9-8 loss that came down to the final inning, PB Head Coach Aaron Duncan was positive about the direction his team is headed.

“We’re just getting better everyday and that’s the goal,” he said. “I told them yesterday against Farmington the score was indicative of the positives that we had but it’s just about getting better everyday and battling. It was a tough game to play and these girls are starting to show some grit, some toughness and some resilience. If we can keep doing that and keep battling, in about two or two and a half weeks, we’ll see what happens.”

Even though they were handed the loss, the Lady Mules out-hit Jackson and pushed the Lady Indians to the brink, something that hasn’t occurred very often this season as the Lady Indians already have more than 20 wins to their credit this season.

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Mules pushed a runner across to give them the lead, one they would hold until the Lady Indians got their bats going in the top of the sixth.

Jackson scored four runs in the top sixth to take a 7-4 lead over the Lady Mules heading to the seventh.

Two crucial insurance runs were scored in the top of the seventh to give Jackson a 9-4 advantage with Poplar Bluff down to its last three outs.

The Lady Mules were on the board quick in the bottom of the seventh as they scored four runs to cut it to 9-8 before they stranded the bases loaded.

After falling to Farmington 11-3 on Monday, the Lady Mules had a quick turnaround before taking on the powerful bats of the Lady Indians.

Duncan said what he saw Tuesday isn’t surprising.

“We see their potential and their abilities,” he said. “It just hasn’t all came together and we haven’t strung anything together yet but when our bats get going, I think we’re tough because we’re a tough out up and down the lineup. That’s just been trying to get that mindset everyday to get to that place where it’s going to all come together, you just have to keep grinding.”

Several Lady Mules had multiple hits in the game as Addy Valenzuela, Liz Blanchett, Heaven Werkmeister and Tylar Brookreson each had two hits in the game while Brookerson added two RBIs in the loss.

Molly Eason went five innings in the circle and allowed three earned runs while striking out two.

Poplar Bluff hosts East Carter on Thursday.