SOFTBALL: Lady Warriors knock off previously unbeaten Nashville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ A tenth inning win is becoming common place for the DuQuoin Middle School softball team. On Wednesday afternoon, DuQuoin beat Nashville 4-1 in the "charmed" tenth inning. Nashville was an undefeated team (13-0) until the Warriors came to life in the tenth inning. Nashville scored one run in the first inning and DuQuoin scored one in the third. From there it was a 1-1 game, then came the top of the tenth. DuQuoin scored three runs in that inning. Timbra Mansfield started the inning with a single. Kat Robison laid down a nice sacrifice bunt that the Nashville third baseman threw away for an error. Amber Williams struck out with first base occupied (an out), the catcher, however, threw to first and it got away from the first baseman. The error allowed Mansfield to score. Amanda Atteberry got on with a fielder's choice and the third baseman made another error to benefit DuQuoin. Robison and Atteberry scored. Marisa Ferguson hit a single, but her courtesy runner was stranded at second. Nashville was shut out in the bottom of the tenth for the DuQuoin victory. DuQuoin is in control of their own destiny in the Conference with a 9-0 record. Their overall record is 13-3.
This game was definitely a pitcher's duel with Marisa Ferguson coming out the winner. This may have been her best performance for the season so far. She had 12 strikeouts, allowed four hits, one run (unearned), and walked only one batter. Ferguson's record is also 13-3. Nashville's defense committed 5 errors. DuQuoin's defense was stellar committing only one error. The losing pitcher for Nashville, Ingram, had 13 strikeouts, allowed five hits and only one walk. The two pitchers were both outstanding and very evenly matched. The difference in the game was lack of defense by Nashville and/or the great defensive effort by DuQuoin. It was a "heck of a game" any way you view it.
DuQuoin hitting was: Amanda Atteberry 1-5, RBI; Marisa Ferguson 2-5; Abby Doerr 1-5, RBI; Timbra Mansfield 1-4.
Sydney Lewis was the flex (defense only) player in right field. Carissa Graham had a nice sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning, and made several outstanding catches in centerfield. Kat Robison had a nice sacrifice bunt in the tenth that helped the cause. Other players seeing action were: Amber Williams, Jacqueline Harsy, Hannah Marek, Brittany Clark, Andrea Morgan, and Sadie Day.
Coach Jason James had lots of reasons to be overjoyed with this win. This puts his team solely in the lead in the conference and could influence the team's seeding in the upcoming regional. James said "Wow!! What a game!! I thought Ferguson pitched her best game of the year and our defense was outstanding. We had a very nice 5-4-1 double play in the sixth that got us out of a little jam and had some nice plays in the field by Williams and Graham. We did a very nice job running the bases tonight, and I really thought the bottom of the order did a nice job getting on base and getting their bunts down (Graham and Robison with the bunts and Mansfield swinging the bat). I am very proud of my girls, and how they really showed up to play tonight. I was very impressed!"
DuQuoin travels to Johnston City on Thursday for a 4:00 game.