SOFTBALL: Lady Indians 4-0 after pair of victories
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[DuQuoin High School Softball is off to a rousing start winning two more games on Monday. DuQuoin defeated Waltonville 12-2 and Mt. Vernon 2-1 improving their record to 4-0 in the young season.
In the first game, Waltonville was beaten by DuQuoin using the ten run rule after five innings. Waltonville scored one run the second inning and one run in the fourth. DuQuoin scored six runs in the first, one in the second, one in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth inning to defeat Waltonville 12-2.
Cassidy Rice was the winning pitcher. She went five innings, allowing 2 hits, two runs (both unearned), one walk and had six strikeouts. This is her first win of the season.
Statistics for DuQuoin were: Kelsey Toler was 1-3 scoring 2 runs. Jessica Hirsch was 2-3 with a home run and a triple, and 2 RBI. Hirsch also had a stolen base. Kelsey Robinson was 3-3 with a triple and 2 RBI. Hadley Marek was 1-3 with an RBI. Cassidy Rice was 1-3 with an RBI. Magen Edwards was 2-3 with a stolen base. Katrina Whitley was 1-2 with a double, 2 RBI, and a stolen base. Ashley Ward was 1-3 with an RBI. Curry Emling was 1-2 with a walk. Bri Green, courtesy runner, also scored a run. DuQuoin committed 2 errors in the game while Waltonville had 4 errors.
Coach Jason James thought "Cassidy threw well, and again we hit the ball very well in this game. Hirsch got her first home run on the season in the first inning."
In the second game of the evening, DuQuoin played Mt. Vernon. This turned out to be a much closer competition for the Indians. DuQuoin scored one run in the second inning and one run in the third. Mt. Vernon scored one run in the first inning. DuQuoin got the win 2-1. Neither team committed an error in this contest.
Individual statistics for DuQuoin were as follows: Kelsey Robinson was 1-3 with a home run and an RBI. Hadley Marek was 1-3 with a double. Katrina Whitley was 1-3 with an RBI. Ashley Ward was 1-1 with a double and 2 walks. Jessy Wallace had a sacrifice bunt. Others seeing playing time were Kelsey Toler, Jessica Hirsch, Cassidy Rice, Magen Edwards, and Curry Emling.
Cassidy Rice was the winning pitcher. Her record goes to 2-0. She pitched all seven innings allowing 4 hits, one earned run, walked 4 and struck out 10.
Coach James was pleased with Rice's effort. "Cassidy pitched awesome, and we played outstanding defense behind her. Mt. Vernon hit a home run in the first, and we came back with a run in the second. Marek led off with a double and scored on Whitley's 2 out RBI single to right to tie the game. Robinson came up in the third and belted her third home run of the season to deep left center to give us the lead. Rice pretty much mowed them down the rest of the way leading up to a big win over Mt. Vernon. It was an outstanding game for both teams."
DuQuoin plays at home on Tuesday against Goreville at 4:30.