Staff photo by Mike Buhler Dunklin County's Aaron Booker connects for a RBI base hit during the first game of Wednesday's baseball doubleheader against Poplar Bluff at Senath. [Click to enlarge]

SENATH, Mo. -- If clutch hitting is the name of the game, the Dunklin County Post 303 Dodgers proved Wednesday that they know how to play.

The Dodgers scored their first seven runs of the day with two outs as they took an 8-2 win over the Poplar Bluff Mules in the first game of a doubleheader.

Dunklin County then rolled to an 11-1 win in the nightcap to complete the sweep.

Staff photo by Mike Buhler Dunklin County's Ben Smith delivers a pitch during the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Poplar Bluff. [Click to enlarge]

"I'll take a win any way I can get them," Dunklin County manager Jamie Johnson said between games Wednesday. "Two-out hitting is where games are won. I just wish we'd do something with the first two outs."

Post 303 (9-7) broke the game open with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two out, Heath Horvath singled to drive in Kaleb Canoy and make it a 3-1 game, then Dustin Hunter stepped up and sent a double to left-center to score Garrett Stockton and Horvath and make it 5-1.

Aaron Booker capped the rally with a base hit to chase home Hunter.

"Right now we're just trying to learn (the best ways) to hit and get good pitches," said Johnson. "If we'll hit good pitches, we'll be successful."

After the Mules (4-3) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, Dunklin County answered in the bottom of the inning.

Again with two out, Shane Branum was hit by a pitch and Canoy reached on an error, setting the table for Stockton, who singled to score both Branum and Canoy and put the Dodgers ahead.

Stockton finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

"Garrett is having a lot of fun," Johnson said. "He's a lot of fun to watch. It's a lot of fun to watch one learn how to play. He does a great job for us."

While Post 303's batters were getting the job done at the dish, Ben Smith was getting it done on the mound. Smith scattered just five hits and walked none while striking out three before taking a line drive off his shin in the sixth inning.

"Ben threw well," Johnson said. "He had good command and got ahead of hitters."

Horvath and Booker each had a pair of hits for Post 303 in the opener.

Todd Bullington took the loss for the Mules, allowing seven runs (four earned) in five innings of work. He allowed eight hits while striking out four and walking two.

In the nightcap, the Dodgers capitalized on 11 Poplar Bluff walks and also stole seven bases in a game that was mercy-ruled in the middle of the fifth inning.

Post 303 scored five times in the fourth inning to take command and enforce the 10-run rule.

Dylan Stockton, Craig Jones and Bo Smith each drove in a pair of runs, while Jones had two stolen bases and Matt Fouts also stole a pair of bases.

Roy Leasure tossed all five innings to earn the win, striking out four and walking two while scattering four hits.

The Dodgers are back in action Saturday afternoon when they host District XIV foe Jackson in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

"Right now, I'm real pleased with the way we're playing baseball," Johnson said. "I'm real pleased with the kids. They're starting to have a lot more fun around the ball park. They're learning what we expect of them."

Notes: The Dunklin County Redbirds Junior Legion team split a doubleheader at Scott County Wednesday night, losing the district contest 10-9 in 10 innings before winning the nightcap. The Redbirds (19-4, 1-1 District XIV) also swept a doubleheader at Dyersburg, Tenn. on Tuesday. ... The Dodgers complete an eight-game homestand Sunday against Paragould, Ark.