Poplar Bluff's Donnie Magruder reacts to being hit by a pitch Thursday. (Brian Rosener/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

By BRIAN ROSENER ~ DAR Sports Editor

Chaffee's Josh Steger found the holes in Poplar Bluff's defense while the Mules kept finding nothing but leather Thursday.

Steger tied the game with a two-out single in the fifth, and drove in two more runs in the seventh with a single past a drawn-in infield to beat Poplar Bluff 3-1.

"That was the thing that separated this game," Mules coach Stan Bullington said. "They got the timely hit and found the hole somehow, and we didn't."

The Mules (1-1) scored their only run in the third inning but left runners stranded at second and third with nobody out. They also managed just four hits, two from leadoff hitter Josh Thompson.

Steger, who was 3-for-4, broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh with a one-out single through the right side to score Trenton Horman, who hit a one-out double to the left-field wall. Jerrod Steger, who drew a walk on a full count, also scored from first when the throw to the plate bounced to the backstop.

"We were just one hit away from breaking it open early on," Bullington said. "I think if we could have gotten that hit it would have snowballed for us."

Poplar Bluff took the lead in the third when Colby Geringer started the inning with a single to right field. Ben Knuckles' bunt was then misplayed, putting Geringer on third and Knuckles at second.

Thompson followed with a single up the middle, scoring Geringer, then took second on the throw home that held Knuckles at third.

However, Chaffee starter Russell Gardner got out of the jam against Poplar Bluff's 2-3-4 hitters with a strikeout and a pop fly to short before another strikeout, this time on a full count.

"I believe we would have turned that into a couple of runs in the next several innings," Bullington said. "The guys got a little frustrated, I think."

Josh Steger tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth with a hit-and-run single through the left side. Russell Gardner scored after starting the inning with a double to deep left and later moved to third on a passed ball.

Poplar Bluff starter Donnie Magruder nearly got out of the jam with a strike out and a fly ball to center field, but the junior walked the next hitter. The hit-and-run worked for Chaffee as Steger's grounder found the vacated shortstop position, allowing Gardner to score.

"It was very aggravating," said Thompson of the play. "But there's nothing we could do about it, it's just bad luck."

That summed up the day for the Mules, who had rallies in the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings come up empty.

Todd Bullington was left stranded following his two-out double in the first when Brennen Moore's hit up the middle was snared by the pitcher. In the second, Chaffee turned a line drive to second into a double play while in the fourth, Gardner picked off a runner following a leadoff walk.

Thompson's two-out double in the fifth was the final time Poplar Bluff got a runner into scoring position and the game ended with the tying run coming to the plate twice in the seventh.

Gardner struck out five, walked one and hit two batters for Chaffee (3-0).

"They made the plays," Bullington said. "A couple of them were good strokes, hit the ball hard, but just right at somebody."

Notes: Magruder didn't give up a hit until two outs in the third and was so efficient that his scheduled three-inning appearance turned into five, coach Bullington said. The junior walked two, struck out four and gave up one run on five hits. … Jake Smith (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs in two innings on three hits and a walk. The sophomore, who struck out two, got out of a jam in the sixth after the leadoff hitter singled and was sacrificed to second. Smith struck out the next hitter and third baseman Taylor Boles made a running catch of a foul ball to end the threat. … The Mules travel to Scott City today and host Sikeston on Tuesday.