Notre Dame walks past Jackson

The Jackson baseball team failed to take full advantage of three walks to open Friday's SEMO Conference quarterfinal game.

Notre Dame, on the other hand, turned five first-inning walks into six runs in a 9-4 victory against the Indians.

"We didn't capitalize," Jackson coach Rex Crosnoe said. "They did."

Notre Dame pitcher Kirk Boeller, despite allowing four walks in the first inning, surrendered just one run in the frame and went on to throw a complete game at the Indians.

He finished with a five-hitter. He walked eight, struck out six and allowed four runs -- all earned.

Jackson had a three-run uprising in third inning that made the score 6-4 before Notre Dame scored two in the fourth and one in the fifth.

In the top of the first, Jackson loaded the bases but scored only on a one-out fielder's choice by Taylor Bush. Another walk loaded the bases before Boeller ended the threat.

In the bottom half, after a leadoff out, Notre Dame pushed across six runs with five walks and run-scoring singles by Jacob Wengert and Lucas Dirnberger.

Logan Lawson took the loss, lasting 2/3 of an inning. Junior Andrew Gross provided some effective pitching for the Indians in the loss, Crosnoe said.

Notre Dame will face Central in a semifinal at noon today at Central. Jackson will face Scott City in a consolation game at 10 a.m. today at Notre Dame.

"That puts us where we'll play at least in the third-place game [on Monday]," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "We wanted to play on Monday."

* In the other quarterfinal games, No. 3 Kennett beat No. 6 Dexter 11-7, and No. 7 Sikeston routed No. 2 New Madrid County Central 12-2 in five innings.

Sikeston, which has been in the finals each of the past three years, will play 2 p.m. Saturday at Central against Kennett.

NOTRE DAME 9, JACKSON 4

Jackson 103 000 0 -- 4 5 0

ND 600 210 x -- 9 12 0

WP -- Kirk Boeller. LP -- Logan Lawson. 2B -- Shane Menz (ND), Luke Moll (ND). Multiple hits -- Notre Dame, Abe Dirnberger 2-3, Menz 2-4, Jordan Buchheit 2-2, Moll 2-3, Jacob Wengert 2-3. Records -- Jackson 8-9.