By BRAD HURT ~ DAR Sports Writer

Poplar Bluff took advantage of several Sikeston miscues in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday to record a 10-3 win, then swept the day with a 5-2 win.

Poplar Bluff built a lead early in the opener as Ben Knuckles came through with a 2-run single that was misplayed by the center fielder, allowing Caleb Conover and Bobby McIntosh to score. Knuckles advanced to third on the error and raced home on a wild pitch later in the inning to put the Mules up 3-0.

"When you get guys on base and force them to make the play and they don't, it's costly," Poplar Bluff coach Justin Shell said.

A sacrifice fly by Robert Rushin scored courtesy runner Jake Smith from second after Donnie Magruder reached on an error to start the third for Poplar Bluff.

A leadoff walk by McIntosh got the Mules started in the fourth, and he came around to score following three wild pitches to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Conover added a pair of RBIs over the final innings as he doubled to center in the fifth to drive in Todd Bullington and Rushin, then drove in Dallas Berry with another double in the sixth to make it 10-3.

Magruder allowed three runs while scattering nine hits over five innings to pick up the win for Poplar Bluff. He struck out three against no walks.

Magruder and Rushin, who pitched the final two innings, combined for zero walks. The Sikeston lineup went down in order in the first, sixth and seventh innings.

"Our pitching was outstanding," Shell said. "We made a lot of good pitches with guys in scoring position."

Sikeston stranded a pair of baserunners in the second and again in the third before getting on the board on a solo home run by David Hessling in the fourth. Josh Stevens reached base on an error prior to the home run but was caught stealing.

"That was a huge out," Shell said. Instead of being up one, we're still up two."

Sikeston scored its other two runs in the fifth with three consecutive two-out, extra base hits. Josh Pierce doubled and scored on a double by Seth Baker. Josh Jackson then tripled off the centerfield fence to score Baker to make the score 8-3.

Bullington and Conover each went 2-for-3 to lead the Mules. Conover drove in three runs while Bullington drove in one.

"Caleb caught 14 innings, and it was hot, so we asked a lot of him," Shell said. "We got guys on base in front of him."

Garrett Limbaugh took the loss for Sikeston, allowing five runs in four innings. He struck out two and walked four.

The Mules once again benefited from Sikeston miscues to put runs on the board in the second game.

Knuckles singled to start the fifth and McIntosh doubled to give the Mules a good scoring opportunity. The Mules cashed in as both runners scored on wild pitches in the inning.

McIntosh finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. His double in the first drove in Knuckles with the Mules' first run of the game.

"We're working on making sure we get ourselves in good position to hit," Shell said. "We get the pitch and put a good swing on it."

Smith pitched a complete game, striking out eight and walking only one. He allowed one earned run.

The Mules (4-1) will travel to Senath for a doubleheader Wednesday and South Pemiscot for the varsity tournament beginning Thursday.