Sikeston splits games to open season

SIKESTON — The Sikeston baseball team split a pair of home games against DeSmet and Marshall County (Ky.) to kick off its regular season on Saturday, March 18.

The Bulldogs (1-1) stumbled out the gates and lost 14-0 to the Spartans (2-0-1) before rebounding with a thrilling 8-7 win over the Marshals (0-1).

Noah Pruitt and Phillip Johnson each saw action on the mound against Desmet. Pruitt took the loss after starting the game, pitching 1.1 innings and surrendering eight earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. Johnson pitched 1.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on three hits with two strikeouts.

Samuel Cardwell threw a three-inning no hitter for the Spartans, while Michael Wunderlich was the team’s top run producer with two home runs and seven RBIs.

The Bulldogs responded with a exciting 8-7 win over the Marshals.

Rush Ault earned the win after pitching six innings and allowing two runs on nine hits with six strikeouts. Heath Poindexter pitched the final inning, striking out one and allowing one run on two hits.

Trace Sullivan finished with two hits, a RBI and scored a run, while Pruitt, Carter Goodman, Daeton Taylor, Joseph Heckemeyer each had a single hit.

Sikeston trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Goodman started the rally with a single to left field. Taylor walked on the next at-bat and Conner Wallace walked a short time later to load to the bases with just one out.

Jacob Leavitt and Heckemeyer were both walked on the next two at-bat to tie the game 7-7, and Pruitt drove in the game-winning run on a hard ground ball.

__DESMET 15, SIKESTON 0, F/3__

DeSmet 284 xxx x - 14 8 0

Sikeston 000 xxx x - 0 0 0

W—Samuel Cardwell. L—Noah Pruitt. 2B—DeSmet: Luke Burns, Jacob Schmidt. HR—DeSmet: Michael Wunderlich (2).

__SIKESTON 8, MARSHALL COUNTY 7__

Marshall Co. 010 103 2 - 7 11 1

Sikeston 010 031 3 - 8 6 1

W—Rush Ault. L—Reese Oakley. 2B—Marshall County: Maddox Cope (2), Oakley.