Pitching leads Notre Dame baseball past Kennett in extras in conference tourney semifinal

It's been a rough couple of weeks for Will Ferrell.

First, there was the chicken pox. Then a kidney infection.

His Monday night took a turn for the better.

Ferrell threw seven strong innings to hold second-seeded Kennett at bay, as third-seeded Notre Dame took out the Indians 3-1 in eight innings in a SEMO Conference Baseball Tournament semifinal at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau.

On a night when the offense didn't show up, Ferrell did, allowing just one unearned run, scattering five hits and striking out 11.

"My fastball is usually always on," Ferrell said. "We didn't throw much of the changeup today, but we threw a bit of the curveball and it kept getting better and better, so we were consistent with that."

The Bulldogs (13-6) scored their three runs on just one hit.

"I told them at the end, 'I'm frustrated with the bats, but I'm proud you found a way to win,'" Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "We went out and battled in the last inning. We probably should have broken it open for four or five runs, but we got what we needed out of it and we're just lucky Big Will was phenomenal on the mound today, could match them pitch for pitch and gave us a chance to win."

Kennett (11-7) also had strong performances on the mound, with Payton Burke and Brenton Tidd combining to allow one unearned run on one hit through seven innings, with eight strikeouts and five walks.

Ironically, on a night in which the pitchers dueled, it was control issues on the mound that did the Indians in, as reliever Edward Wilson came on for the extra frame and immediately walked Ben Womack, hit Tyler Essner and then walked Ross Essner to load the bases.

Andrew Spence came on to try to put out the fire, but plunked Garrett Siebert to push in the go-ahead run and make things 2-1. A four-pitch walk to Trevor Haas plated another run to send Notre Dame on top 3-1. Spence struck out the next three batters, but it was too late.

"There's not a better conference tournament in the state than what you're going to play in in this one," Kennett coach Aaron New said. "The top seed can lose to the eighth seed. It's been a long, hard grind for us and we've got some young [pitchers] we're trying to protect, and that's playing into our decisions at this time.

"No frustration level. We're just young and they got a SEMO all-conference type pitcher that threw against us and we didn't put together very good at-bats. Our pitching gave up one hit, we played great defensively, we've just got to put together better at-bats next time."

Notre Dame took a 1-0 lead in the first when back-to-back walks set up a double steal, and a throwing error to third in an attempt to get a runner led to a run scored.

Kennett returned the favor by pushing the issue in the bottom of the sixth, getting a leadoff walk and a one-out single. An aggressive lead by Burke at second tempted catcher Haas to throw to second, and the ball skipped into the outfield. A second error when the ball was not picked up cleanly allowed Burk to score and tie things at 1.

The Bulldogs had pressed the issue in the top half of that inning, but getting aggressive led to a 5-4-2 double play and a runner thrown out at home on a fielder's choice.

"That's what you've got to do when you've got pitchers throwing that well," Graviett said. "Both teams had them going. You've got to find a way to manufacture runs. We picked up one and they picked up one so they kind of canceled out, until they struggled to throw strikes in the eighth inning."

Notre Dame will face No. 1 Poplar Bluff in the championship game, with a date and time yet to be determined.

Notre Dame 100 000 02 -- 3 1 2

Kennett 000 001 00 -- 1 5 1

WP -- Will Ferrell. Sv -- Ross Essner. LP -- Edward Wilson. 2B -- Andrew Spence (K).