Jerge, Poulos combine for Mustangs win

Updated: April 13, 2011 3:34PM

Munster's Scott Jerge doubled his fun, collecting both the pitching win and the game-winning RBI in the Mustangs' 8-0 home shutout of Bishop Noll.

Jerge gave Munster all the runs they needed in the bottom half of the first inning with a sacrifice fly to score Adam Larimer.

The speedy Larimer led off the inning with a slow grounder to the second baseman, who had to hurry an errant throw, allowing Larimer to reach second. He moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Jerge's flyout to right field.

Munster (6-3) added another run in the third inning with a two-out rally started by a walk to Colin Mudroncik. Bishop Noll pitcher Eric Rodriguez (0-2) had Mudroncik apparently picked off, but Mudroncik gained second base after the Warriors failed to execute the rundown.

Singles by Mark Strbjak and Brooks Platt brought home Mudroncik with the run.

"We got to the fifth inning and had only given up one earned run," said Bishop Noll coach Paul Wirtz. "You can't give a team like Munster extra opportunities."

The earned run Wirtz referred to was a home run from Munster senior Jim Hinkleman in the fourth inning. Meanwhile, the Warriors were missing some opportunities of their own.

Jerge (1-0) got into a jam in the top of the fourth inning, walking a pair of hitters to start the frame. He subsequently retired Bishop Noll's fourth and fifth batters before issuing another walk to load the bases. Jerge escaped when he struck out the Warriors' Danny Pobereyko swinging.

"I could tell my velocity was coming down and I wasn't finishing," Jerge said.

Bishop Noll (1-4) loaded the bases again on another walk from Jerge, an error on a slow roller to third and then a walk from sophomore Mike Poulos, who had relieved Jerge. But Poulos got a strikeout and a groundout from the Warriors' third and fourth hitters to end the threat.

"Jerge was losing concentration in the fourth inning, but I didn't want to pull him yet," said Munster coach Bob Shinkan. "It's early in the season and you don't want to hurt guys' confidence. Poulos came in and did a good job. He's going to be a good one. We've got to keep getting him lots of experience."

Platt finished with three hits and two RBIs for Munster, while Strbjak finished with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

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