DONNELLSON — Small details matter in every game.

In some cases, they end up being the difference.

The Notre Dame Nikes played better defense and took advantage of miscues from Central Lee, leading them to a 6-1 win in an SEI Super Conference South Division game Friday night at Central Lee High School.

Central Lee was only charged with one error, but it made plenty of mistakes in the infield and outfield that Notre Dame took advantage of. The first play of the game was a popup hit by Landry Haberichter to the shortstop. The ball dropped, allowing Haberichter to get first base. Later in the inning, Kyler Cameron recorded an RBI on a ground out, giving the Nikes a 1-0 lead.

After a pair of walks, Hank Humphrey singled to right field, scoring two and extending the lead to 3-0.

Central Lee would get one run back in the bottom of the first when Gage VanAusdall singled, scoring Ward Fraise. Notre Dame starting pitcher Tatum Warner was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with one out, allowing just one run.

In the top of the second, the Nikes got their run back and then some. With one out and one on, Haberichter tripled to center field, making it 4-1. A wild pitch by Central Lee scored Haberichter for a 5-1 lead. After another dropped fly ball by Central Lee and an error by the shortstop, Notre Dame took advantage. Eli Oleson singled past the shortstop for a 6-1 Nikes lead.

Notre Dame coach Chris Chiprez was pleased with how his team was able to take advantage of the gifts Central Lee gave them.

“It was almost a flip flop of when we played them two weeks ago at our place,” Chiprez said. “I thought tonight it was kind of a reversal. They had a couple of misplays in the outfield, and we capitalized on it with hard base running. Sometimes it boils down to taking advantage of the other team’s mistakes and we did that.”

With the win, the Nikes were able to close the gap on Central Lee in the South standings. Chiprez knows how important it was for his team to get off to a good start, especially considering how they were playing earlier in the season.

“We’ve been playing really well,” he said. “The first week we had was a rough start for us. We were 1-4 and probably should’ve been 4-1. I think the first week was an eye opener for the guys. Losing two conference games right off the bat, I think made these guys hungry.”

After the second inning, the game calmed down and both pitchers started to settle in. Central Lee recorded one hit the rest of the night.

Chiprez was thrilled with Warner and Hudson Neally, who would come in to relieve Warner.

“Warner is a junior and he’s probably turned into our No. 1 pitcher, he said. “He’s a great strike thrower and he does a great job of starting ahead on hitters. If you pound the zone and use the defense, we’re bound to make plays and that’s what we’re looking for. We asked a freshman in Hudson Neally to come in the game with their power hitters coming up. I thought he did a good job of keeping them off balance.”

When the offense is going early, that makes pitching a lot easier. Warner said that was a big difference for him.

“It definitely helps me a lot when the bats are going,” Warner said. “We started with a three-run lead and then I could trust my defense to make plays behind me. It makes me a lot more comfortable.”

Warner pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, one run and five walks, while striking out six.

Neally pitched 2 1/3 innings, recording two strikeouts.

Notre Dame outhit Central Lee, 7-4, with Central Lee committing the only error.

Haberichter went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Garrison Reid was 1-for-3 with a walk and scored a run. Oleson earned two hits in three plate appearances with an RBI and run scored. Humphrey and Payne Prottsman both recorded one hit in three at bats with Humphrey netting two RBIs.