PENSACOLA, Fla. --The Mules had a blast at the Pensacola Spring Break Classic.
Turner Fritts hit a home run for the third straight day and Carson Webb also went deep as the Mules beat Lighthouse Private Christian Academy of Pensacola 18-6 in five innings Wednesday to claim the championship.
"We really hit the ball well," Mules coach Steven Edwards said. "Extremely proud of the guys."
The Mules (7-0) outscored opponents 62-6 in the three-game tournament that was cut short due to expected rain. Poplar Bluff pitching didn't allow a hit through the first eight innings and had their scoreless streak snapped in the second inning of the final with the Mules already ahead 16-0.
Austin McIntosh earned the win, striking out six in three innings while allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits and two walks. Sam Pierce allowed a run over the final two innings, striking out four and allowing a hit and two walks.
Leading 2-0, the Mules put together a double-digit inning for the third straight day, scoring 14 runs in the second inning against Lighthouse pitcher Jeff Wilson, who Edwards said threw in the mid-to-upper 80s.
Fritts hit a three-run home run after hitting a grand slam the previous day and a solo homer in the tournament opener.
Mason Libla, who hit three homers in the first two games, finished the tournament with eight RBIs, driving in two more Thursday.
Tyson Cox scored three times, reaching on an error, a single and a walk while Jaxon Huffman drove in a run and scored twice, Noah Burkey had a two-run double and Cameron Jones was 2 for 2 with an RBI and a run. Webb, hitting eighth in the order, scored three times and raised his average to .429.
Through seven games the Mules are hitting .414 as a team and averaging 14.4 runs, scoring at least seven in each game.
"I think our lineup has adjusted where you can't pitch around guys," Edwards said. "Gives us a chance of breaking open a big inning like we have."
The Mules return home today and will host Malden at 4:30 p.m. Monday before returning to SEMO Conference play against state-ranked Sikeston at Strenfel Memorial Field on Tuesday.