Du Quoin hangs on late to top rival Pincknevyille, 6-5

Posted April 04, 2017 11:00 pm

Adam Iwans aiwans@duquoin.com

It wasn't the prettiest of finishes for Du Quoin Tuesday evening, but they were able to hang to edge out rival Pinckneyville, 6-5, behind a complete-game effort from Braden Lee. Ahead 6-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Lee retired the first batter, Dylan Carns, swinging before the Panthers mounted a comeback attempt. Kyle Luke got things going with a double. Tyler Rice popped out the next at-bat before Ethan Bowen ripped a ground ball down the third-base line that went under the mitt of the third baseman to score Rice. Miles Chandler followed up with an RBI-single to center and advanced to second on a throw home cutting the lead to 6-5 and putting him in scoring position to tie the game. After an intentional walk to Tyler Rulevish, Lee was able to maintain his composure and get the final out, as Hank Stewart fielded a ground ball and got the force out at second to seal the 6-5 win. "We really didn't close out the inning defensively very well," Du Quoin head coach Tim Craft said. "But, it came down to Hank made the play at the end of the game, so it was a good win." Lee worked all seven innings, surrendering five runs on just five hits, one walk (intentional), while striking out four. Aside from the seventh inning, the Panthers got their offense in the third and fifth inning. In the third, Rulevish came up with a two-out RBI single to score Bowen. In the fifth, Carns reached on a HBP to open the inning and Luke subsequently reached on an error, allowing Carns to score. Chandler plated the final run of the inning with a two-out RBI single to score Bowen who reached on a single of his own. "Pinckneyville has always had some kids that can swing the bats a little bit," Craft said. "Early on, he made them chase some pitches and then they started getting a little more timing on him. He adjusted and got us through some tough times." Du Quoin took the lead right out of the gate with an RBI double from Jordan Edwards off of Pinckneyville starter Rulevish to score Lee who reached on a double of his own. They added two more in the top of the third with a pair of RBI singles from Ashton Smith and Charley Mercier, scoring Lee and Stewart. Smith scored again the fifth on passed ball after reaching on a single and advancing to third on a double from Mercier. And in the sixth inning, the Indians added two more insurance runs which would prove to be crucial. Tevin Lee belted his third-home run of the season, a solo shot well over the right-field fence and Bryce Clarry (pinch runner for Lee) scored on a Pinckneyville error. Overall, Du Quoin came up with 10 hits while Rulevish worked five innings allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out seven. "We have had some good games the last week," Craft said. "Yesterday we had a little bit (against Carterville) and the game against Harrisburg we had a little bit of trouble. The main thing is we want to put the ball (in play), especially with two strikes. "We have seen two tough pitchers in a row and the biggest thing is not striking out, putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the other team. If we can do that, we will be ok." The Indians resume play Wednesday at Johnston City with a start time of 4:30 p.m.