Bunting helps Dexter beat NMCC baseball team 4-3

Note: A photo gallery of the Dexter-NMCC game is available at this link: View Photos Here

NEW MADRID, Mo. - Dexter Bearcats baseball coach Brian Becker didn't hesitate to play small ball in the final inning of a tie game against the New Madrid County Central Eagles Thursday night.

After Dexter's Colton Averett started the seventh by reaching base on an error and Jason Mattison followed with a walk Becker asked his offense to move the game-winning run closer to home by bunting.

Dexter pinch hitter Jacob Pedigo recorded the first out of the top of the seventh when he put down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third.

The buntfest continued when Wyatt Kiger followed Pedigo's at-bat with a suicide squeeze that drove home a run without a play at the plate and propelled Dexter past New Madrid County Central 4-3.

"It was kind of a no brainer," Becker said of the successful strategy. "We had been up a couple times before with runners at second and third and didn't get the run across. With one out and Wyatt up I figured what the heck. I had confidence he would come through for me on that squeeze and he did a good job."

Five of the seven runs tallied in the closely contested SEMO Conference affair were unearned. The Eagles allowed three unearned runs and Dexter surrendered two unearned runs.

"Not a bad game," NMCC coach Joseph McClarty said. "Our defense just let us down in the sixth and seventh inning. Something we are working on and have got to get better at is making the routine plays and making them when it counts."

The Eagles built a 3-0 lead when it tallied three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Palmer Campbell had a two-RBI single in the scoring sequence.

The Bearcats tallied all four of its runs with two outs in an inning.

Dexter plated its first run on a two-out double by Dalton Manuel in the top of the fifth.

The Bearcats tallied two more runs in the top of the six inning when the Eagles committed an infield error with two outs and the bases loaded.

NMCC outhit Dexter 7-6. All of the Eagles hits were singles. The Bearcats had four singles and a pair of doubles.

"I felt we swung the bats OK, put the ball in play, but didn't really get the big hit," McClarty said. "We left runners on second and third, but hats off to Dexter. They battled and always do. Becker gets the best out of his kids and they play fundamental baseball."

It is the third time this season Dexter has come-from-behind to secure a one-run victory.

"These guys did a good job of coming from behind today," Becker said. "It seems to be the norm for this team. We get down early and comeback. I'm just proud of the way we battled all day."

Dexter used two hurlers.

Mattison threw the first five innings. He allowed six hits, struck out three and walked four.

Averett allowed one hit in two innings of scoreless relief work. He faced the minimum while collecting a win.

"Jason did a great job on the mound today and has had two solid starts in a row," Becker said. "Their pitcher Godwin pitched in the final four last year so we knew it was going to be a tough battle for us coming in and both pitchers lived up to the bill."

Austin Godwin pitched the first 5 1/3 innings for the Eagles. Godwin allowed three runs.

Grayson York collected one out before giving way to Gage Silman with two outs in the sixth.

Silman entered with the bases loaded with two outs and the score tied at 3-3. Silman escaped the jam by striking out Manuel to end the sixth and pitched the rest of the way for the Eagles.

NMCC is slated to play Cooter at noon and Bernie at 2 p.m. Friday at the nine-team two-day Malden Tournament.

"We'll play two great programs Friday," McClarty said. "Hopefully, we will go over there and give it our best and have a great time."

Dexter (4-4) returns to action Monday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Poplar Bluff.

"They've got pitchers and swing it well," Becker said of Bluff. "We'll have to come in and play some good baseball to stay in the park with them. They are a good club."

Dexter 4, NMCC 3

DHS 000 012 1 - 4 6 3

NMC 030 000 0 - 3 7 2

WP - Austin Averett. LP - Gage Silman. 2B - Dalton Manuel (D), D.J. Dowdy (D). Multiple hits - Dexter: Dowdy 2-4, Manuel 2-4, Jason Jarrell 2-3; New Madrid: Palmer Campbell 2-3, Garrison Keene 2-4.