CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Matt Lambert and Michael Anagnostopoulos combined to drive in 10 of Poplar Bluff's runs in a 15-3 win Saturday at Cape Central.
The Mules set a season high for runs and matched their best hit total with 18.
Lambert drove in six runs with four hits, Anagnostopoulos had four RBIs and scored three times with three hits on his birthday. Turner Fritts and Tyson Cox also had three hits for the Mules (11-5, 3-1 SEMO).
"I think the bats are going great for us," Mules coach Steven Edwards said. "Any time you go into a district game and hit the ball like we did today you've got to be happy as a coach."
Joe Darlin allowed three runs and six hits with a walk in five innings, striking out four for his second win of the season.
"Joe pitched great today," Edwards said. "Had command of his fastball, threw the breaking ball good. Had times where him and Mason (Lilba) had a lot of batters fooled today."
Central (3-11, 0-5) was behind before even getting an out as the Mules continued their first-inning production. Poplar Bluff has now outscored opponents 26-4 in the opening frame.
"When you get on the board first a lot of good things are going to happen," Edwards said. "Baseball is a funny sport like that, momentum goes a long way."
Jared Moses opened the game with a single to right, stole second and scored on a line-drive single to left by Tanner Tibbs. After a single by Cox, Libla's fly out to center moved the runners into scoring position before an infield hit by Fritts loaded the bases. Anagnostopoulos hit a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead before Lambert's two-run single up the middle.
Three of Lambert's hits came with two outs.
"He hit the ball well today," Edwards said. "That's just being patient in the box and seeing the ball well, waiting on your pitch and doing a job."
In the second inning, Moses and Tibbs reached on errors with one out before Cox hit an RBI single to left. With two outs, Fritts hit an RBI single and Anagnostopoulos a two-run double before scoring on a single by Lambert for a 9-0 lead.
In five conference games, Anagnostopoulos is hitting 9 for 20 (.529) with eight of his 14 RBIs, which matches Libla for the team lead.
The Tigers got a run in the third on two hits and a sacrifice fly but the Mules answered with two outs in the third. Cox singled and moved to second on a passed ball before an RBI hit by Libla. Fritts singled before an RBI double by Anagnostopoulos before a two-run hit by Lambert put the Mules ahead 13-1.
Lambert's RBI single in the fifth came with one out after a single by Anagnostopoulos. Darlin's RBI single set the final score as the senior retired the Tigers in order in the fifth.
The Mules, who were hitting .284 as a team after eight games, have their team average up to .346
"It's exciting to see the guys hitting the ball like we're seeing now," Edwards said.
The Mules are scheduled to host Dexter at 4:30 p.m. Monday and Jackson on Thursday in SEMO Conference games. Poplar Bluff, Notre Dame, Jackson and New Madrid Central all have one conference loss.
Poplar Bluff won the junior varsity game 13-2.