Sikeston starts with a bang, secures 5-1 win over Notre Dame

SIKESTON, Mo. — Stunning its opponent and thrilling its fans, the Sikeston baseball team secured a 5-1 victory over Notre Dame in a SEMO Conference matchup at VFW Stadium in Sikeston on Tuesday, April 25.

Sikeston (4-12) played with precision, finesse and put on a proficient performance in earning the upset over Notre Dame (9-8).

“Today came down to two really good days on the mound for us,” said Sikeston coach Wyatt Pratt. “Phillip Johnson and Noah Pruitt were both excellent and made some really big pitches.”

Johnson earned the win and pitched the first three innings. He allowed one earned run on four hits with two walked batters.

Pruitt finished the game, throwing the final four innings and allowing no runs on three hits with five strikeouts and no walks.

Pruitt also had a single on a hard ground ball to score Joseph Heckemeyer and Keane Atkins for the team’s first runs of the game.

Sikeston extended the lead to 4-0 later in the first inning after Trace Sullivan scored on an error and Pruitt scored on a sacrifice fly by Connor Wallace.

“[Wallace] played his best game all year at shortstop making a couple of tough plays,” Pratt added. “Noah Pruitt stepped up for us at the plate in the first inning when he drove in two. Then again in the fifth inning."

Pruitt scored the team’s final run on a sacrifice fly by Carter Crow after he reached base with a triple.

Notre Dame scored its lone run came when Logan Landewee scored in the top of the third inning.

Both teams will compete in the opening round of the SEMO Conference Tournament at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 28.

No. 8 seed Sikeston will compete at top-seeded Jackson (19-6), while No. 4 seed Notre Dame will host No. 5 Dexter (7-10).

__SIKESTON 5, NOTRE DAME 1__

ND 001 00 0 — 1 7 2

Sikeston 400 010 x — 5 3 1

W—Phillip Johnson. L—Reid Morgan. 2B—Notre Dame: Will Dodson, Brycen Clark. 3B—Sikeston: Noah Pruitt.