NMCC drops final two games of SEMO Tournament

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — It was a tough weekend for New Madrid County Central baseball as the team dropped its final two games at the SEMO Conference Tournament.

The Eagles (6-15) fell 5-3 to Dexter (8-12) on Monday, May 1, after losing 19-3 to Poplar Bluff (11-12) on Saturday, April 29.

“Today against Dexter the pitching was there,” said NMCC coach Joseph McClarty. “The good things were there and our defense let us down with too many errors. We are searching to put a whole game together. We have a couple of weeks here to get things straighten out before districts.”

The Bearcats gained a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles came right back and tied it in the top of the third inning after Brandon Waters doubled to score Ty Williams.

Dexter regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning after adding two runs, but again NMCC responded.

John Harris scored on a sacrifice fly by Carson Pfeffer and Clay Cope scored on a single by Brandon Waters to tie it 3-3.

Brock Wyman and Noah Alford scored the game-winning runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Brady Swims took the loss after five innings. However, he didn’t allow any earned runs on two hits with six strikeouts and two walks.

Cope pitched the final inning and struck out all three batters he faced.

Kaeden Kennedy earned the win after three innings pitched and allowing one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

Swims also took the loss against the Mules after throwing two innings and allowing six earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks. The Eagles tried to use several other pitchers to no avail.

“We struggled on the mound,” McClarty said. “The defense needs to tighten up. We took good at-bats but we are just hitting the balls right at them.”

NMCC will travel to Twin Rivers (11-11) on Tuesday, May 2, and to South Pemiscot (12-7) on Friday, May 5.

__DEXTER 5, NMCC 3__

NMCC 001 020 0 — 3 6 6

Dexter 100 220 0 — 5 2 0

W—Kaeden Kennedy. L—Brady Swims. 2B—NMCC: Ayden McCanless. 3B—Dexter: Kennedy.

__POPLAR BLUFF 19, NMCC 3, F/5__

PB 206 38x x — 19 9 1

NMCC 000 12x x — 3 3 2

W—Dylan Bratcher. L—Brady Swims. 2B—Poplar Bluff: Bryce Hobbs, Kolby Greenwell.