SOFTBALL: Lady Indians short-game Sparta, 11-1

The Lady Indians picked up their first conference win of spring 2015 on Thursday, short-gaming Sparta in five innings, 11-1, behind the pitching of Marisa Ferguson and hits up and down the lineup.

Ferguson allowed just four hits and an unearned run and struck out four with no walks, adding a single and an RBI at the plate as the Du Quoin leadoff hitter.

"I really thought Ferguson threw very well," said DHS head coach Jason James. "She hit her spots and kept the ball down."

"We are also gaining some confidence at the plate. We had some good swings on Monday (against Carterville's Avery English) and we carried that over into today. Hopefully we can build some momentum going into the weekend."

Amanda Atteberry, who finished 3-for-3 at the plate, got the scoring started with an RBI triple in the bottom of the first inning, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Jordyn Bullar to make it 2-0 Du Quoin.

The Lady Indians got three more in the second inning, two coming in on Timbra Mansfield's triple.

The flood gates burst open in the third as six Lady Indians crossed home plate. The RBI hits came from Amber Williams (two-run single), Mackenzie Jackson (two-run single), Bullar (single) and Afton Robinson (single).

Ferguson (1-3, RBI, SAC), Jackson (1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB), Atteberry (3-3, 2 R, RBI, 3B), Bullar (1-2, 2 RBI, SAC), Robinson (1-3, RBI), Mansfield (1-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, 3B), Williams (1-2, R, 2 RBI) and Sydney Lewis (1-1, 2 R, BB) accounted for Du Quoin's ten hits.

The Lady Indians (6-8, 1-1) travel to Johnston City on Saturday for three games - 10:15 a.m. vs. Johnston City, 2:00 p.m. vs. Murphysboro, and 3:15 p.m. vs. Dupo.