SOFTBALL: DHS sweeps doubleheader with Marissa
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin High School Softball Team got off to a terrific start opening their season with two wins over Marissa on Saturday. DHS was playing shorthanded as two of the starters were at a Youth and Government Conference in Springfield. Coach Jason James was without his starting pitcher, Cassidy Rice, and his starting shortstop, Jessica Hirsch. Both players are contributors in the hitting area as well. Even without this dynamic duo DuQuoin was able to pull off two wins. The second game, however, did go eight innings as DuQuoin won it in the bottom of the eighth using the International Tie Breaker rule.
The first game was a shortened five inning game. The final score was 13-2 in DuQuoin's favor. Emily Asbury got the win, pitching 5 innings allowing two unearned runs on three hits, 1 strikeout, and 1 walk. The losing pitcher for Marissa was Ashley Lehman; she allowed 13 runs (9 earned runs) in 4.5 innings. DuQuoin had 7 hits, 4 strikeouts, and two walks on Lehman. Marissa committed 8 errors, which did not help their cause. DuQuoin had 3 errors in the first game. DuQuoin's big inning was the third inning where they scored ten of their runs. Marissa committed 5 errors in that inning.
Kelsey Toler (centerfield) was 1-3 at bat with a single and a walk. Aubrey Davis (shortstop) was 1-3 with a single and an RBI. Kelsey Robinson (third base) had a big game at the plate going 2-3 with a double, Home Run, and 4 RBI. Hadley Marek (first base) was 2-3 with a single and a double and an RBI. Magen Edwards (left field) was 1-3 with a single and an RBI. Ashley Ward (second base) was 1-3 with a single and an RBI. Curry Emling (right field) was 0-2 with a walk and a stolen base. Jessy Wallace (catcher) was 1-3 with a single and an RBI. Amanda Williams also saw playing time as the designated player.
While the first game was somewhat of a blow out for DuQuoin, the second game was completely the opposite. It was close throughout the game. Marissa tied up the game in the seventh inning leading to the International Tie Breaker going into effect. Marissa did not score in the eighth, but DuQuoin did in the bottom of the inning on a winning hit by Hadley Marek scoring Brie Green from third. The final score was 8-7 in DuQuoin's favor. Another high point of the game was Kelsey Robinson's grand slam home run in the fifth inning. Robinson had a home run in each game.
The winning pitcher was again Emily Asbury moving her record to 2-0. She pitched 8 innings allowing 7 runs (6 were earned), 12 hits, had 5 strikeouts and 2 walks. The losing pitcher for Marissa was Corey Pitchford pitching 8 innings, allowing 8 runs (all earned), 13 hits, had 3 strikeouts and 6 walks.
DuQuoin had 13 hits in the second game. Kelsey Toler was 1-5. Aubrey Davis was 1-3 with a walk as well. Kelsey Robinson was 1-4 with a grand slam home run and 4 RBI. Hadley Marek was 2-4 hitting in the winning run (RBI). Magen Edwards was 2-4 with a single and double and an RBI. Katrina Whitley was 3-4 with two singles and a triple and an RBI. Ashley Ward was 0-1, but had three walks and a stolen base. Curry Emling was 1-3 with a single. Cassidy Hill was 1-2 with a single. Amanda Williams and Brie Green also saw playing time in the game.
Marissa only had two errors in this game, while DuQuoin had 4. DuQuoin's record is 2-0. The Indians are coached by Jason James. Lonnie James, Jacob Emling and Chelsea Cassity are assisting.
DuQuoin plays next at Mt. Vernon on Monday, March 21 at 4:00 and 5:30.
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