Misner shuts down Notre Dame baseball team in Poplar Bluff victory

All Notre Dame baseball coach Jeff Graviett could advise his players throughout Tuesday night's game against Poplar Bluff was to be aggressive at the plate against left-handed pitcher Kameron Misner and try to get a fastball to hit early, "because once he got ahead of us he was carving us up."

That was easier said than done for the Bulldogs, whose scoring chances were limited in a 3-0 loss to the visiting Mules.

"Misner was fabulous on the mound today," said Graviett, who saw a six-game winning streak end for his team, ranked eighth in the latest Class 4 poll. "He was throwing 3-2 changeups. He was really grooved in. His velocity was anywhere from 82-85. ... I thought he was tremendous on the mound today."

Misner, a Missouri baseball signee, struck out the first two batters of the game before issuing a walk. He then retired the next eight batters while the Mules built up their lead.

Poplar Bluff catcher Mason Libla hit a two-out double to right, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a balk in the top of the first.

Notre Dame starter Will Ferrell also walked a batter in the frame, but recorded a strikeout to strand him at second and keep the damage to one run.

Notre Dame starter Will Ferrell pitches against a Poplar Bluff batter during the sixth inning Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at Notre Dame Regional High School. FRED LYNCH

"Just kind of a sophomore mistake," Graviett said about the balk. "Got on the mound and had a brain fart, I guess is the best way to put it. Bounced back, struck out the next guy."

He struck out the side looking in the second before the Mules added to their lead.

Poplar Bluff shortstop Tyson Cox singled to start the third, but was erased stealing.

Second baseman Jared Moses then hit a slow roller between first base and the mound that Ferrell fielded, but Moses reached when Ferrell's throw went over the head of first baseman Garrett Siebert.

Moses stole second and Misner drew a walk before Ferrell struck out Libla for out No. 2.

Right fielder Joe Darlin drove in a run with a single to left and right fielder Trevor Fredwell followed with an RBI single to shallow right. Darlin was thrown out at the plate to end the inning, but the Mules led 3-0.

"I thought Will threw well today. They're a really good offensive team, and they didn't hit a lot of balls off of him. [They] had a couple infield singles," Graviett said. "... And I really thought the inning he gave up two he battled out there and they just found ways to do it. They were the better team today, and hopefully we get to see them again."

The Bulldogs recorded their first hit in the home half of the fourth when Siebert sent a ball to left field and tried to stretch it into a double. Siebert was initially ruled safe at second, but the call was overturned after Poplar Bluff coach Steve Edwards came out of the dugout and the umpires conferred.

Designated hitter Nick Lindsay sent the next pitch to shallow right for a bloop hit, and Ferrell smacked the first pitch he got off the glove of the leaping third baseman for the Bulldogs' third and final hit. A popout ended the threat.

Notre Dame's only other base runners came in the bottom of the seventh, where Misner issued back-to-back walks with two outs. However, he induced a popout to end the game.

"You're just one hit away from getting back in it," Graviett said. "We had two opportunities. There in the fourth we had a couple guys on after the call reversal, and then in the seventh we're one hit away from at least making it interesting. Had a fighting chance, just couldn't get that big hit today to get back in the ball game."

Poplar Bluff scattered six hits off Ferrell, who took the loss on the mound. He walked two and struck out seven in six innings.

Misner recorded 10 strikeouts in the complete-game shutout.

"We expect a well-fought game all night long anytime you play them, and that's what you get," Edwards said. " ... It's two quality ball clubs going after each other and they're well coached and their players are disciplined and I'd like to think the same about us, and when you get on the field it's a lot of fun."

The Mules improved to 14-3 and 3-0 in the SEMO Conference with the victory. Notre Dame dropped to 7-2 and 3-1 in conference.

"Notre Dame's a great team. I mean, anytime you get a win against them you did something right."

Poplar Bluff 102 000 0 -- 3 6 0

Notre Dame 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1

WP -- Kameron Misner. LP -- Will Ferrell. 2B -- Mason Libla (PB). Multiple hits -- Poplar Bluff: Tyson Cox 2-3.