Tuesday's Prep Softball: Lady Tribe works overtime in win over Chester

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[An eighth inning pinch-hit single by Megi Jones scored Kelsey Toler with the winning run Tuesday afternoon, lifting Du Quoin High School's girls softball team to a nail-biting 3-2 win over Chester at Lefty Pyle Field.

Now 9-2, the Lady Indians improved to 2-0 in River-to-River Conference play. Friday, they visit undefeated and Mississippi Division leader Pinckneyville at 4:30.

Weather permitting at 4:30 Wednesday, the Lady Indians welcome another state-ranked foe, Johnston City, to town. First pitch time is also 4:30.

"We did not play all that bad," Du Quoin coach Jason James said. "Chester's pitcher did a great job of hitting her spots all day long. I am proud of the effort. It was nice to see us not quit when Chester went ahead in the eighth."

The contest was scoreless until Chester scored twice in its half of the eighth, finally breaking through against Du Quoin senior Chelsea Hill (5-1) for a pair of tallies.

Playing the International Tie-Breaker rule for the second time in less than 24 hours, Du Quoin started its rally with Jessica Hirsch placed at second base.

After Hill's sacrifice bunt, Hirsch scored on a ringing double to rightfield from Cassidy Rice.

Toler then followed with a two-strike double, sending Rice home and quickly tying the score. Ashley Hess was hit by a pitch and James sent Jones to the plate.

She lined an RBI single into left, easily scoring Toler for the fourth straight Lady Tribe win.

" I was pleased with our defense," James said. " We just have to do a better job of putting the ball in play with a runner on third and less than two outs."

Hill scattered seven hits and whiffed eight.

Heather Cavins led Du Quoin with a 3-for-4 effort, including a double.

The Lady Indians (3-0, 2-0) short-gamed Chester in the junior varsity contest.

Du Quoin 3, Chester 2

CHS 000 000 02-2 7 1

DHS 000 000 03-3 8 0

Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 5-1. TOP HITTERS-DHS: Rice 1-4 (2B, RBI), Toler 2-4 (2B, RBI), Cavins 3-4 (2B), Emling 1-3, Jones 1-1 (RBI).