DU QUOIN SOFTBALL: Lady Warriors Blank Benton

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Putting together six solid innings, Du Quoin High School's Girls Softball team easily dispatched of previously undefeated Benton Monday afternoon at Lefty Pyle Field.

The Lady Indians, 4-3, rolled to a 10-0 short-game victory as junior Chelsea Hill tossed her third shutout in six spring outings.

Du Quoin hosts Wauconda Thursday.

Benton's record dipped to 4-1.

"This was our best all-around game so far," admitted Lady Indians coach Jason James. "We again had very good pitching. Our defense was outstanding and we came to the field ready to swing the bats."

In the first inning, Kelsey Toler led off with a walk and came around on Kasi Camden's two-out infield single. Heather Cavins then chased Camden with a double and Hill followed with an RBI triple.

Cavins stroked her second double in the fourth and courtesy runner Erica Rainwater scored on a single by Hill.

The 4-0 edge stood until the sixth when Du Quoin plated six tallies to end the game.

RBI hits from Megan Edwards and Toler sandwiched around freshman Megi Jones' two-run basehit. Jessica Hirsch grounded out for the ninth RBI and Ashley Hess sealed the win with a single to score Toler.

"We have been working very hard the last few days to correct our hitting and it really showed today," James said. "Hopefully we can keep this going."

Camden, Cavins and Hill all enjoyed two-hit efforts.

Hill (4-2) gave just two hits and struck out seven while walking only one.

Du Quoin 10, Benton 0

Benton 000 000-0 2 2

DHS 300 106-10 10 0

Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 4-2. TOP HITTERS-Du Quoin: Toler 1-3 (RBI), Hirsch (RBI), Hess 1-4 (RBI), Camden 2-3 (2B, RBI), Cavins 2-2 (2-2B, RBI), Hill 2-3 (3B, 2 RBI), Edwards 1-3 (RBI), Jones 1-3 (2 RBI).