DU QUOIN -- The Harrisburg Bulldogs softball team won the pitching duel and the ballgame Wednesday, defeating the host Du Quoin Indians, 2-1.
The visitors jumped out to a 1-0 lead against DHS hurler Chloe Hill in the top of the fourth inning. Essence Sanders was hit by a pitch to start the frame. Karsyn Davis followed with a single to right. Kerrigan Payne then helped her own cause by delivering an RBI single to center.
One inning later, the Bulldogs extended that lead to 2-0 when Haley Sullivan singled and came around to score on Sanders' RBI single.
The Indians were held scoreless until their last at bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Morgan Bullar led off with a single. Meryn Gross reached on an error. Payne then reached back for a little extra in the tank and induced infield fly outs off the bats of Lauren Heape and Chloe Hess. With two on and two out, Olivia Whitley kept the rally alive when she delivered a hit, scoring Bullar. But Maci McKinnies flied out to short to end the rally and the game.
Hill allowed only four hits with the two runs, while striking out seven.
Offensively, Du Quoin had six team hits -- one hit each from Hill (triple), McKinnies, Abbi Mocaby, Bullar, Heape and Whitley. Payne was pitcher of record for the Bulldogs. She only struck out one Du Quoin batter.
The Indians will host a three-team tournament Saturday with games beginning at 10.
