BASEBALL: Legion splits with Murphy, Craig dominates Game 1

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[What initially looked like a pitcher's dual between two of the state's top prep hurlers turned into a lopsided victory for visiting Murphysboro American Legion Post 127.

All-state pitcher Dylan Craig shut down Pinckneyville-Du Quoin Posts 2504 & 704 with a complete game shutout in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader, fanning thirteen batters and allowing just four hits and a walk.

Craig's opponent on the hill was Du Quoin's Brandon George, who had a fantastic month of May before struggling in the IHSA?state semifinals on June 3. George did his part to keep the game close, allowing three runs through the first five innings, but Murphy was able to pile on five runs on four hits in the sixth inning to bust the game open.

George had two of the four hits off of Craig, a single and a double in his 2-for-3 showing. Trent Bigham (1-3) and Taylor Beninati (1-3, 2B) had the other hits.

Dylan Meier and Sam Kuhnert combined for the victory in the second game for P-DQ, with Meier going five innings and Kuhnert closing out the last two as neither allowed an earned run in the 9-3 win.

At the plate, Craig Dahlman (2-3, 2 RBI), Bryant Shute (2-2, 2 RBI, HR), and Brandon Long (3-4, 3 RBI) led the way on offense for Pinckneyville-Du Quoin.

P-DQ American Legion Posts 2504 & 704's Senior team (6-4, 0-3) is at home at Rigdon Field again this Sunday when they will host Steeleville for a doubleheader with the first game starting at around 4:00 p.m

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