Poplar Bluff's Trent Hillis watches his tee shot Tuesday on No. 10 at Ozark Ridge Golf Course. Hillis shot a 3-under 35 to lead the Mules. (Brian Rosener/DAR) [Click to enlarge]

Trent Hillis rolled in a long birdie putt on No. 11 at Ozark Ridge Golf Course then followed with birdies on 12 and 14 to finish 3-under 32 Tuesday to lead Poplar Bluff.

The Mules beat Dexter 144-163 a day after a rough day in Springfield in which Poplar Bluff finished tied for fifth and nobody was closer to par than 5 over.

"Everybody came back playing well," Mules coach Billy Pyland said. "I'm proud of my guys."

Chance Holden led Dexter at 1-under 34 on the back 9 at Ozark Ridge, but Hillis was two strokes better and even missed two more birdie putts.

Zack Stricker got a birdie on 18 and carded a 37 for Poplar Bluff along with Corey Poteet. Josh Rathbun and Cameron West each shot rounds of 38 for the Mules while Jonah Brown shot a 43.

Jon Bowman shot 41 for Dexter while Matt Miller finished at 44.

A week before the district tournament, the Mules had one of their best team scores in relation to par Tuesday. Poplar Bluff, which faces Jackson today, will defend its district title at Dalhousie Golf Club.

Alex Riffle and Cameron Caldwell led the junior varsity Mules with rounds of 45. Kyle Brooks and Taylor Price each shot 48 followed by Logan Kennedy (52), Ethan Swingle (53), J. Darby Smothers (55) and Alex Johnson (58).

BASEBALL

The Mules picked up a key conference win heading into this weekend's SEMO Tournament as they defeated New Madrid 11-5 Tuesday.

The Mules used extra-base hits to score seven runs over the last two innings after the Eagles rallied to take a 5-4 lead heading into the sixth.

"We kind of spread it out," Mules coach Stan Bullington said of his team's offensive effort. "We had five guys with key doubles."

The fifth inning featured three doubles, including an RBI by Todd Bullington to give the Mules a brief lead.

Cameron Pickard and Caleb Conover each doubled in the sixth as part of a four-run inning for the Mules.

The Mules did their best work in an unfamiliar situation as Bullington said New Madrid starting pitcher Josh St. Mary may be the first left-hander the team has seen this season.

Bullington said his team's offense really got going once they got used to facing the left-hander.

"Our offense started clicking well late," he said. "We had a good effort at the plate."

The Mules closed the strong by adding three runs game in the seventh.

Mules pitcher Todd Bullington went six innings allowing five runs, one of them earned, on eight hits. He struck out one and did not walk a batter for his first win of the season.

"Todd did a nice job pitching overall " coach Bullington said. "He did a good job moving the ball around."

Jake Smith pitched a nearly perfect seventh in relief of Bullington, striking out one and walking one.

The Mules (4-5, 3-3 SEMO) will open the SEMO Conference Tournament at 4 p.m. Friday at Notre Dame with the outcome determining when they will play Saturday. The championship round will be played on Monday.