CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The Notre Dame softball team was struggling to make contact at the plate. So the Bulldogs turned to a small-ball approach that helped key their run to the Class 3 state championship game last fall.
Notre Dame bunted four times in the fourth inning, breaking up a no-hitter and scoring the game's first two runs without the ball leaving the infield. Hailey Kutz and the defense did the rest as Notre Dame secured a 3-1 win over visiting Poplar Bluff on Tuesday in a SEMO Conference matchup at Notre Dame Regional High School. It was the Bulldogs' sixth consecutive victory.
"If we're going to have trouble swinging the bats, we're going to have to move it with the bunts and the speed," Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett said. "That's how we set this team up. That was a big key to our postseason success."
Through three innings, both teams had combined for just one hit. That changed in the bottom of the fourth. Kalie Compas led off with a bunt single and took second, catching the Mules (5-2 overall, 2-1 conference) sleeping on defense. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored when Conner Overfield put down another bunt.
Overfield advanced to second on a throwing error and eventually scored on the fourth bunt of the frame, this one by Riley Burger.
Notre Dame (7-1, 2-0) added a run in the sixth. Overfield reached base to begin the inning on an error and scored on Macy Landeros' sacrifice bunt.
Poplar Bluff's Lauren Alexander took the loss, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits and five walks while striking out four.
"Since I've been here, we've had trouble with those pitchers who kind of throw that cutter away or stay away from you," Graviett said.
"Today was no exception. Just got to find a way to get a few girls on. They made a mistake or two for us, and we were able to get a few runs, and that was all we needed today."
The Mules broke up Kutz's shutout in the seventh thanks to an RBI single from Audrey Locke, who went 2-for-2.
Poplar Bluff left nine runners on base.
"We didn't have a lot of timely hits," Poplar Bluff coach Lisa Boyer said. "Not getting that big hit when we needed it. We're young. We're inexperienced.
"Overall, I was pleased. We got a lot of girls playing new positions, and we stayed in that game."
Kutz went the distance, striking out six while giving up an unearned run on five hits and five walks. The Bulldogs' defense helped her out, turning a double play on a sacrifice bunt in the fifth when a runner tried to advance from first to third. Catcher Kristen Barwick got the third out of the inning, picking off a runner at first base.
"Defensively, I thought we did a fine job," Graviett said. "I was kind of hoping to finish that up with a shutout to kind of reward them. But I thought all in all, they did a good job."
With the win, Notre Dame avenged last season's 1-0 loss at Poplar Bluff and is now one of only two teams in the SEMO Conference without a loss in conference play. The other, Jackson, has played just one conference game.
"It's huge," Graviett said. "One of our last conference games is against Kelly, and win a couple more of those conference games and have a chance to win that thing -- it's one of our early goals."