Mules stop skid with walkoff walk

The Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team stopped its three-game losing streak in walkoff fashion — literally.

Marcus Tabanera drew a bases-loaded walk with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning to push home Cameron Settle with the winning run to take a 3-2, extra-inning win over the Oran Eagles Tuesday at Bobby Strenfel Field.

Kayson King led off the bottom of the eighth with a base hit, followed by a Bryce Dobbs double to left with one out. The Eagles intentionally walked Kaleb Dover to load the bases, setting the table for Tabanera’s heroics.

The Mules (9-11) led 2-1 after six innings, but Oran tied the game in the top of the seventh when Nolan Loper singled with one out and later scored on Kole Burger’s double to right.

Poplar Bluff scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the second inning when Aedan Dawes walked, moved to second on Ethan Smith’s groundball and then scored on Noah Spain’s base hit to right.

The Eagles tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Loper walked and later scored on Kolten Payne’s single.

However, the Mules retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when David Durbin reached on an error and later scored on Dylan Bratcher’s base hit to right.

King’s two hits led the Poplar Bluff offense.

Rylan Seesengood got the win in relief of Bratcher. Seesengood allowed four hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking three.

The Mules begin play in the SEMO Conference Tournament Friday.