Harrisburg continues hot start to season

Harrisburg improved to 5-1 on the season with a 3-1 win over Eldorado at home Friday afternoon.

Essence Sanders picked up the win for the Bulldogs, going all seven innings, allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts.

Emma Wargel took the loss for Eldorado, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one stroke.

At the plate, Harrisburg was paced by a 2-for-3 performance from Sanders, who also finished with three RBI.

Sanders drove in Madeline Rider for the games first run in the first inning and Sanders then drove in Rider and Hannah Reid in the third inning.

Rider was 1-for-3 on the day, while Reid was 1-for-2.

Paige Munds went 2-for-3 for Eldorado, while Wargel was 1-for-1 with a second inning home run, finishing with an RBI.

Harrisburg's weekend's games against Galatia and Crittendon County, Ky., were cancelled due to weather. Bulldogs head coach Red Stafford said he's hopeful he will be able to still reschedule those games.

After starting the season off with a win against Hardin County, the Bulldogs won the Fairfield Tournament by beating Edwards County (7-6), Carterville (3-2) and Herrin (10-8) before dropping its first game of the season to Pope County 7-5.

Harrisburg is scheduled to play at Hamilton County on Tuesday, at Du Quoin on Wednesday, host Maroa-Forsyth Thursday, while going to Eldorado on Friday and closing out the weekend with a home doubleheader against Union County, Ky., and Pope County.

Benton 14, Eldorado 4

Eldorado put up four runs, but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fell to Benton 14-4 late last week.

Lexie Mitchell went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three stolen bases to pace EHS, while Emma Wargel was 1-for-2 with two RBI. Madison Newton finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base and Derian Corn was 0-for-3 with an RBI.

In the circle, Wargel took the loss, going three inning and allowing 12 earned runs on 11 hits, with three strikeouts and two walks. Ali Joyner came on in relief and went three innings, allowing three earned runs on two hits, striking out one and walking three.

All of the Eagles' runs came in the fourth inning, as Benton put up four runs in the second, followed by seven runs in the third. The Rangerettes would close out the game with one run in the fifth and two more runs in the sixth.

"This was our second game of not strong hitting as a team," EHS head coach Rick Dempsey said. "We are still young in the pitching part of game and aren't consistent enough on location of pitches yet."