ND makes quick work of Sikeston

Notre Dame starting pitcher Kirk Boeller retired the first three Sikeston batters with a mere five pitches in a matchup of district foes Tuesday at Notre Dame.

Boeller's efficient first inning was just a sign of things to come, as the Bulldog junior allowed just three base runners over seven innings in a 3-0 Notre Dame win that took just one hour and five minutes to complete.

"I think my fastball felt the best," Boeller said. "I couldn't control my changeup but I was hitting spots with my fastball."

The key to Boeller's big day was a steady defense behind him. Boeller struck out just four, but he got seven outs on ground balls and nine outs on fly balls.

"I sleep better at night knowing my defense, whenever they hit, they'll be under it to catch it," Boeller said.

Even when the defense briefly faltered -- Sikeston's leadoff hitter reached on an error in the sixth inning -- it was quick to recover. With a 3-1 count and a runner on first with no outs, Boeller was able to induce a grounder to third basemen Shane Menz, who started a double play.

While Boeller was cruising through the Sikeston lineup, Notre Dame got all the offense it would need in the bottom of the first. Blake Essner led off with a walk, and Jacob Wengert sacrificed him to second. Shane Menz followed with an RBI single.

Notre Dame used a similar formula to score its final run, using a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.

Derek Ressel accounted for the other run with a solo home run in the second inning. The blast was Ressel's second home run in as many games.

"He's seeing it well," Bulldog coach Jeff Graviett Graviett said of Ressel. "He's been swinging well the last four or five games."

Boeller, who improved to 4-3, allowed just two hits, including one infield single. He hit a batter but did issue a walk.

"The big thing I challenged him with was getting ahead," Graviett said.

Notre Dame has won six straight games and 10 of its last 11. Two of those six wins have come against Sikeston, which has the top seed heading into the Class 3 District 1 tournament at Sikeston.

"It's been a long time since we got two wins over them," Graviett said. "But the district still goes through them."

Sikeston starter Jared Scott allowed just four hits in six innings. Scott struck out six and walked only two, but both walks came in to score. Cullen DeHart, who doubled in the fourth, was the only Sikeston runner to reach second base.

"We couldn't have played much better in all three facets of the game," Graviett said.

Notre Dame 3, Sikeston 0

Sikeston 000 000 0 -- 0 2 1

Notre Dame 110 001 X -- 3 4 1

WP -- Kirk Boeller, 4-3. LP -- Jared Scott. HR -- Derek Ressel (N). 2B -- Cullen DeHart (S), Jeremy Brinkmeyer (N). Records -- Notre Dame 14-6, Sikeston 0-0.