Sikeston struggles at the plate in 14-1 loss to Poplar Bluff

Sikeston's Dylan Thornbrough catches a throw from catcher Nolan Self for a tag out during a baseball game against Poplar Bluff, Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at VFW Stadium.

Alex Wallner/Standard Democrat

SIKESTON — It was a quick turnaround for the Sikeston baseball team on Tuesday, and one that the Bulldogs felt couldn't end quick enough.

Twenty-four hours removed from a 13-4 victory over New Madrid County Central, Sikeston (4-8) returned to VFW Stadium for its second-straight SEMO Conference matchup — this against Poplar Bluff.

Even though the Bulldogs scored the first run of the game, Poplar Bluff (5-8) responded by scoring 14 unanswered runs en route to a 14-1 victory.

Needless to say, if there were a restart button, Sikeston would surely like to press it.

“Our pitchers didn’t have their best stuff,” Sikeston head coach Brett Kolons said. “We struggled to locate, and at the plate, their pitcher did a good job of striking us out.”

Mules junior hurler Kannon Carr dazzled on the mound for Poplar Bluff, tossing seven strong innings. He gave up four hits, and one earned run while striking out 12 batters and walking two.

“He showed why he’s one of the best in Southeast Missouri,” Poplar Bluff head coach Steven Edwards said. “Coming off a couple of bad losses in the tournament, where we played well but played a lot of guys to save Carr for this game. We had our ace ready, and we went after them.”

However, in the first inning, Sikeston did find a way to score against Carr.

Back-to-back one-out walks by seniors Trey Drake and Nolan Self put two runners aboard to start the rally.

Following that, sophomore Trace Sullivan plated the lone run for the Bulldogs on a base hit to give Sikeston a 1-0 lead.

“We were aggressive on the basepaths and put pressure on the other team,” Kolons said. “If we’re going to be successful, that’s how we need to play.”

Carr, though, minimized the damage as he struck out the final two batters of the inning to leave one runner in scoring position as he headed into the visiting dugout.

From there, the Mules knew they needed to back their pitcher.

And they would do just that, scoring five runs in three of the first four innings and nine in the final two frames to end its two-game losing streak.

The offensive onslaught started for the Mules in the second inning, as sophomore Kayson King led off the frame by drawing a walk.

Then, junior Ty Rommel reached after the Sikeston right fielder dropped the ball to put runners at the corners with nobody out. King advanced to second base, during the Rommel at-bat, on a passed ball.

Shortly following the Bulldogs' miscue, Poplar Bluff loaded the bases after junior Dalton Gatewood drew a walk to set up sophomore Jakob Valenzuela with a chance to tie the game.

The nine-hole hitter made the most of his at-bat, driving in King with a base hit to tie the contest, 1-1, while also keeping the bases loaded for the top-of-the-order.

With only one out in the inning, junior Brady Robertson became the second after he grounded out to second base.

However, Rommel was able to score during the putout to give the Mules a 2-1 advantage, and that was all they needed in the end.

“It’s constantly having a plan at the plate,” Edwards said. “What we talk about at practice and what we preach in our philosophy; getting the guys to buy-in and understand what we’re trying to do and it worked. All through the lineup, top-to-the-bottom, people were getting hits, and people were moving around and scoring runs. It was a lot of fun.”

Altogether, the Mules collected six extra-base hits, as junior Jacob Baller, seniors Nicholas Edwards and Parker Moore, Rommel, and Carr all hit doubles.

Moore went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs, while Edwards went 2-for-4 with one run and three RBIs. Both were the only two Mules players to have more than one hit.

For Sikeston, senior Justin Marks was the lone recipient in the multiple hit category, going 2-for-3.

The Bulldogs host Farmington today at 4:30 p.m., while Poplar Bluff travels to the Branson Furst Tournament on Friday. The Mules open with St. Thomas Aquinas.

WP — Kannon Carr. LP — Trace Sullivan. 2B — Nicholas Edwards 2 (PB), Jacob Baller (PB), Kannon Carr (PB), Ty Rommel (PB), Parker Moore (PB). Multiple hitters: Poplar Bluff — Parker Moore 3-4, Ty Rommel 2-4, Nicholas Edwards 2-4; Sikeston — Justin Marks 2-3.