BASEBALL: Indians reach .500 with seventh straight win
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[DuQuoin Baseball got rained out on Friday evening in a game with Anna-Jonesboro. The team traveled to Anna, but didn't even get started before the storm hit.
Saturday morning A-J found a dry field at Goreville so DuQuoin met Anna-Jonesboro there to play. They were able to get a complete game in with DuQuoin winning 8-7.
That completes the regular season for DuQuoin and the conference as well. DuQuoin's record is 12-12 going into the regional on Monday. Their SIRR conference record is complete at 4-6.
Anna-Jonesboro scored five runs in the second to take the lead at 5-0. DuQuoin was able to score three runs in the fifth. A-J answered with a run in the fifth making the score 6-3. DuQuoin scored two in the fifth to close the gap to 6-5. A-J scored another run in the sixth making the score 7-5. In the top of the seventh, DuQuoin scored three runs to win the game 8-7. In the seventh, Brandon George singled followed by Drew Bennett getting hit by a pitch. Trent Bigham came up with two runners on and hit a home run to right field. It was his second home run of the game.
Brandon George was 1-3. Drew Bennett was 1-3. Trent Bigham had a big day at the plate going 2-4. Both hits were home runs; he also had 5 RBI in the game. Connor Wheeler was 1-3. Seth Baxter was 2-4. Jacob Stanhouse was 1-4 with a home run and 3 RBI. His home run came in the fourth inning.
Sam Gossett started at pitcher for the Indians. He went 5 innings allowing 7 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), had two walks and 3 strikeouts. Garrett Dorsey relieved for one inning--his pitching debut on the varsity team. He allowed one run (unearned), allowed no hits, 2 walks, and one strikeout. Brandon George came in to close it out in the seventh inning allowing no runs, 1 hit, and one strikeout.
Tim Craft was impressed with his starting pitcher. "Sam Gossett really bailed us out today. We were a little short on arms, and he gave us five strong innings. Gossett gave us a chance to win. Trent Bigham had two home runs today that came up big. I am really proud of him."
DuQuoin has been on a winning streak the past few weeks. They struggled early in the season, but have mounted a great comeback. In late April, their record was 5-11. DuQuoin has won 7 games in May, and has only one loss. Getting to .500 is a major achievement for the Indians. They are peaking at the right time of the season with regionals coming up.
DuQuoin starts regional play on Monday at home with Waltonville (4:30). DuQuoin is the #3 seed behind Nashville and Pinckneyville.