Spain, big innings push Mules past Cape Central

The Poplar Bluff Mules baseball team used strong pitching and a pair of big innings at the plate to roll to a 10-1 win Friday over the Cape Central Tigers in a SEMO Conference contest at Strenfel Field.

First of all, the Mules (12-5) got a strong pitching performance from starter Noah Spain. The hurler started and pitched six innings, allowing five hits and one run while striking out six and walking none. Dylan Hall tossed a hitless, scoreless seventh inning to secure the win.

Poplar Bluff also got timely hitting.

Kolby Greenwall snapped a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when he singled in Rylan Seesengood with two out on a full count.

Seesengood then got a big hit of his own the next inning when he doubled to right field with the bases loaded, scoring Kade Huffman and Marcus Tabanera — then Dylan Bratcher scored on the same play as the result of an error to make it 4-0.

After the Tigers scored their lone run in the top of the fifth inning, Poplar Bluff put the game away with six runs in the bottom of the fifth.

A single by Bryce Dobbs and a double by Tabanera pushed the Mules’ lead to 6-1, then Bratcher singled home Tabanera and Seesengood to make it 8-1.

Bratcher scored on Cameron Settle’s groundball to make it 9-1, then Hall singled home Seesengood to cap the rally.

Greenwall went 4-for-4 at the dish Friday, while Seesengood had a pair of hits and drove in two runs and Bratcher added a pair of RBIs.

Evan Hall had two hits for Cape Central.

The Mules are back in action Saturday when they host Van Buren. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.