Lady Indians top conference foe Nashville 5-2

Mackenzie Jackson led the way from the circle and at the plate for the Lady Indians as they topped conference foe Nashville 5-2 Monday evening, marking their first win over the Lady Hornets since 2012. <br />The Lady Hornets were on the offensive early, as a leadoff single came around to score on an error to give them the 1-0 lead after an inning of play. <br />But, Du Quoin responded. <br />Mayci McKinnies got things going in the bottom of the third for the Lady Indians, leading it off with a single. <br />Katie Smith capitalized the next at-bat with an RBI triple to knot the game at one run apiece. Jackson followed up with a two-run home run drilled well over the left-center field wall to give her team a 3-1 lead. <br />Du Quoin carried the offensive momentum into the fourth as well. Meryn Gross and Olivia Whitley led off the inning with a pair of singles. McKinnies and Smith followed up with an RBI single and groundout, respectively, to extend their lead to 5-1. <br />"Jackson coming in with a big two-run home run sparked the kids a little bit," Du Quoin head coach Jason James said. "Our seven, eight and nine (hitters), they were hitting the ball, getting on base, trying to set the table a little bit for Smith and Jackson. That's been big for us."<br />Nashville responded in the sixth-inning, with a leadoff double coming around to score on a single. But, Jackson was able to minimize the damage from there, retiring the last batters with runners on second and third. <br />The Lady Hornets led off the seventh with a single, but Jackson retired the next three batters to seal the 5-2 win. <br />Jackson finished the day allowing just the two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out eight batters to go along with her 2-for-3 day at the plate, something James helped fuel her strong performance from the circle. <br />"Yes I think so (Jackson's success at the plate gives her more confidence on the mound)," James said. "It cheers her up a little bit, she's ready to go out fired up to throw. She has been throwing well of late and hitting spots and we played solid defense behind her."<br />The Lady Indians will look to keep things going when they resume Wednesday evening, hosting Herrin at 4:30 p.m.