Du Quoin scores early and often in 13-5 win over CZR

The Indians were quick to end their offensive slump on the road Tuesday evening, they scoring 12 runs in the first four innings to help propel themselves to a 13-5 win over Christopher-Zeigler-Royalton. <br />After scoring just one run combined in its last two games, conference losses to Anna-Jonesboro (3-0) and Nashville (4-1), Du Quoin was able to get on the board early against CZR starter Bryce Pratt.<br />With one out in the top of the first, Tevin Lee and Braden Lee reached on a double and walk, respectively. Both came around to score shortly later on RBI singles from Ashton Smith and Charley Mercier to give Du Quoin an early 2-0 lead. <br />Braden Lee tacked on three more in the second inning, connecting on a three-run home run to score Bryzn Witcher and Hank Stewart who each reached on singles. <br />Lee was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate as he finished with a pair of home runs and a team-high six RBI's. He drew a walk and was hit by a pitch in his two other at bats. <br />The Indians tacked on fur more runs in the third inning, collection RBI's from Alex Zimmerman, Stewart, T. Lee and Jordan Edwards to extend the lead to 8-1. <br />The Indians did not let up, adding three more runs in the fourth inning as Zimmerman collected his second RBI of the game and B. Lee collected his third and fourth to extend the lead 12-2, seemingly on their way to a five-inning win via slaughter rule. <br />But, ZRC tacked on a run in the fourth off Indian starter Witcher to bring the lead back down to single digits. <br />From there, the Indians were only able to put one more run across the board (a solo home run from B. Lee in the top of the seventh) while the Tornadoes added two more runs. Still, it was not nearly enough as the Indians were able to secure a 13-5 win. <br />"For the first four or five innings we didn't strike out a single time, put the ball in play and had good at bats," Du Quoin head coach Tim Craft said. "Maybe we chased a little bit more, maybe got a little bit too aggressive there those last couple of innings. <br />"But, you know their pitcher threw strikes the last couple innings, he did a pretty good job. I wish we had kept the intensity level up a little bit, but I think we relaxed a little bit." <br />Witcher picked up the win for the Indians, tossing 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out three. <br />Will Woodside pitched 1 1/3 innings in relief and Bryce Clarry came on to record the final out with the bases loaded. <br />With the current stretch of four games in four days, Craft was happy with what he was able to get out of his pitchers.<br />"Yes (I'm happy to have gotten those innings out of Witcher)," Craft said. "And even though he didn't finish it out, Will coming in there and getting four outs was big. Even though Bryce only threw four pitches he can come back tomorrow as long as he doesn't pass that magic number 30. It was a good team effort." <br />The Indians (10-7) will wrap up their four-game stretch on the road tomorrow at Carterville at 4:30 p.m., looking to improve upon their last meeting in which they were shutout 1-0.<br />"We have to try to get on them early," Craft said. "Carterville is always a tough place to play and they are always a good team. Hopefully we keep the same approach going and keep moving forward."