DEXTER -- Caleb Miller's two-run home run and his six innings of work on the mound led Dexter past Poplar Bluff 3-2 Monday.

"Bob is a player," Dexter coach Brian Becker said of Miller, using his nickname. "No two ways about it. Even though he's just a junior, he's a big part of the leadership on this ballclub.

"The kids know the kind of player he is, and they look to him for leadership and he just does a great job."

It was the sixth time the Mules (3-4, 2-2 SEMO) played in a game decided by two runs or less.

"We're living on the edge " Poplar Bluff coach Stan Bullington said. "We're still battling, and I think we're still getting better."

Dexter (9-2, 4-1) rallied in the third after Poplar Bluff took a 2-0 lead in the top half of the inning on Cameron Pickard's two-run double.

Jarrett Laird led off with a single, stole second and scored on Mason Noe's double before Miller sent a 1-1 pitch out for his third home run of the season.

Miller struck out five walked three and two runs on six hits in gave six innings up for the win. Noe pitched a perfect seventh for the save.

Donnie Magruder took the loss for Poplar Bluff, allowing seven hits and walking one while striking out three in six innings.

"Donnie threw a good game," Bullington said. "The biggest flaw was our baserunning mistakes."

The Mules ran into outs in three innings and left five on base, including the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth after Pickard's leadoff double.

Todd Bullington got hits in his first two at-bats to extend his hitting streak to six plate appearances before reaching on a fielder's choice and finishing the day 2-for-3 with a double.

Ben Knuckles had a hit and scored while Robert Rushin also had a hit for the Mules.

Colby Geringer walked and scored in the third.

The Mules, who are scheduled Thursday to play at Jackson, beat Oran in extra innings Saturday.

TENNIS

Poplar Bluff's Davis Wilson returns a volley Monday during a doubles match against Sikeston. (Brian Rosener/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

In their first home match of the season, the Mules were shutout Monday by Sikeston, 9-0.

The top-seeded doubles team of Malay Bhatt and Davis Wilson lost 8-4 and No. 4 singles Anderson Gilberto lost 8-5.

The rest of the Poplar Bluff team each lost 8-1.

Bhatt, Wilson, Chris Drury and Navneet Hundal each lost singles matches 8-1.

Drury and Brown lost their doubles match along with Gilberto and Kyle West 8-1.

It was just the second match for Sikeston.

In junior varsity matches, Poplar Bluff won 5-3.

The Mules are scheduled Saturday to host the Poplar Bluff Invitational.