SOFTBALL: Du Quoin bats stay hot against Sparta
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Cassidy Rice pitched a superb softball game against Sparta on Tuesday evening, throwing a two-hit shutout for the Indians in a 14-0 five-inning home victory. Rice improved to 8-0 on the rubber and had one walk, six strikeouts, and one hit batter in the contest.
In a five-run bottom of the first for DHS, Indians third baseman Alexis Kohrs belted a home run to center field in her first at-bat against the team she had played for the two previous seasons. Kohrs added a pair of doubles to complete a 3-for-3 day with two RBI.
The losing pitcher for Sparta was Katie Hill, who threw three innings allowing thirteen runs (four unearned), had two walks and one strikeout. Birchler relieved for one inning allowing one hit, and one earned run.
DuQuoin's defense was stellar committing no errors, while Sparta had three.
Sparta's two hits were by Katie Hill in the first inning, and Haley Ogilvie in the third inning. There was only one other base runner for Sparta, and that was on a walk.
DuQuoin scored in every inning: five in the first inning, one in the second, one in the third, and seven in the fourth inning. DuQuoin pounded out fourteen hits as well as fourteen runs in the game.
Jessica Hirsch was 2-4 with a stolen base, Kelsey Robinson was 0-3 with a walk and an RBI, Cassidy Rice was 2-4 with an RBI, Hadley Marek was 1-3, a double, and an RBI, Magen Edwards was 1-2 with a walk, and a stolen base, Amanda Williams also had a super day at the plate going 3-3 including a triple, Cassidy Hill was 1-2 with a walk.
Others seeing action were Aubrey Davis, Hailey Stewart, and Jessy Wallace was the flex on defense. Other team members are: Katrina Whitley, Kate Toler, Abby Myers, Bailie Caldwell, Emily Asbury, Chelsea Huff, Marisa Ferguson, Amber Williams, and Amanda Atteberry.
Coach Jason James commented, "I was pleased with the way Cassidy (Rice) threw today. Our defense was good behind her--no errors. I was very pleased with the focus we had at the plate today. We hit very well! We need to continue to do that to be successful."
DuQuoin (15-0, 2-0) is at home on Wednesday with Johnston City (non-conference), at home on Thursday with Carterville (conference), and Saturday there is a JV Tournament at home.
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