DU QUOIN SOFTBALL: Lady Indians Salvage Weekend Split

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ While the Du Quoin High School Softball team managed just one win in three weekend games, they ended up learning a valuable lesson.

The Lady Indians saw late leads slip away in losses to Wauconda (10-7) and defending Class 2A State Champion Carterville (5-3).

Du Quoin then rallied with four two-out runs in the seventh inning to squeeze past Harrisburg (10-9) Saturday afternoon.

Now 6-5, the Lady Indians were rained out of Monday's game at Chester.

"We just have to learn how to finish games and we'll be alright," DHS coach Jason James said. "Its something we will need to get better at. We gave up late runs against Wauconda and Carterville and needed a big rally to beat Harrisburg."

Against Harrisburg in the final game of a three-team round robin at Lefty Pyle Field, Kelsey Toler's two-run double sent home the game-winning tallies.

Megan Edwards and Kasi Camden stroked RBI to keep the rally going.

Toler was 3-for-4 with four RBI and two doubles. Ashley Hess, Heather Cavins, Micah Ward, Megi Jones, Stefanie Gates and Curry Emling also hit safely.

Ward (1-1) was the winning pitcher, going the distance while giving 10 hits. She struck out six and allowed only four earned runs.

Carterville erased an early 3-0 deficit to rally past Du Quoin in Saturday's opener. Edwards was 3-for-3 with Emling doubling twice.

Jessica Hirsch stroked two hits.

Chelsea Hill (5-4) was the tough-luck loser, scattering six hits.

Friday vs. Wauconda, Cavins stroked an over-the fence home run but the Lady Indians lost their lead as their upstate opponent plated eight runs in the sixth inning. Wauconda won 10-7 as Hill gave just two earned runs.

Toler, Hirsch and Hess added hits. Caitlin Williams and Megi Jones enjoyed two-hit games.