BASEBALL: Bullar, Smith, Day lead Indians over Zee-Bees

Brock Bullar and A.J. Smith drove in a combined seven runs as the Indians out-slugged Zion-Benton for a 10-6 baseball victory on Wednesday afternoon at The Ballpark at DHS, the third win in a row for Du Quoin.

Bullar and Smith each had big three-run hits for the Indians, who got starting pitcher Dalton Day his first victory of the season after the right-hander tossed five shutout innings before tiring in the sixth.

"It was a good positive outing for (Day)," said DHS head coach Tim Craft. "He kind of ran out of gas and hit the wall quickly (in the sixth), but it was his first start of the year, and the first time his pitch count got up. They really didn't hit him much, he just ran into some walks. He did a great job."

By the time Day's day was finished, his team's offense had jumped out to a lead they would never relinquish.

The Indians picked up two runs in the bottom of the third, scoring on an RBI fielder's choice by Ethan Keller and a sacrifice fly by Jacob Valier. Number nine hitter Cole Hopkins had a double in the inning to set the table for the top of the order.

Bullar notched his first RBI an inning later on a double that scored Levi Brening (walk), but delivered his biggest blow in the bottom of the fifth on a bases-loaded two-bagger to give Du Quoin a 6-0 lead.

"Brock had a couple really big hits," Craft said. "He's been hitting the ball all year, it just hasn't necessarily shown up in the box score."

The Zee-Bees got to Day in the sixth with three hits, a walk and a hit batter, but Valier limited the damage and stuck around to pitch the seventh, picking up a save after Smith gave him some insurance with a three-run triple in the bottom of the sixth inning.

"A.J. is steady," Craft said. "We know he's got a really good chance of knocking in a run, especially when he's ahead in the count like he was on that triple. He got into that one pretty good."

Smith (2-4, R, 3 RBI, 3B), Bullar (2-3, 4 RBI, 2 2B), Hopkins (2-3, 2 R, 2B) and Braden Lee (1-3, R) had the Indians' seven hits.

Day allowed five earned runs - all in the sixth - on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven and hit one batter. Valier gave up a solo homer in an otherwise perfect inning and a third.

Du Quoin (3-2) has won three straight games after an 0-2 start to the season. The Indians are scheduled to take on Chester in a rematch of the 2014 Regional final on Thursday at The Ballpark at DHS.