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Bulldogs bats heat up in win over Vienna

Harrisburg cruised to a 9-1 win over Vienna in Tuesday's IHSA Class 2A Regional semifinal game, setting up a title bout with West Frankfort Saturday.

Essence Sanders picked up the win in the circle as the sophomore went the distance, facing 28 batters and allowing one run on eight hits, while striking out two.

At the plate, Sanders was 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a solo home run in the second inning.

Hayley Sullivan was 3-for-3 with an RBI, while Karsyn Davis was 2-for-3 with two RBI in the first inning, scoring Sullivan and Sanders.

Madeline Rider was 2-for-4, while Gillian Jones was 2-for-3 and MaKayla Payne was 1-for-1 with two big RBI in the fourth inning.

"We're lucky to have Payne on our team," Harrisburg head coach Red Stafford said. "It's my opinion everyone needs a Makayla Payne. You can plug her into just about any position and she'll do a good job."

Payne was inserted into the lineup after Bulldog third basemen Maddi Ladd exited the game early after being hit by a pitch on the arm.

Harrisburg (22-14) scored three in the first and two more in the second. The Bulldogs added three runs in the fourth and one in the sixth. Vienna plated a run in the seventh.

Harrisburg will play West Frankfort Saturday at 11 a.m. The Redbirds took both meetings this past season, beating the Bulldogs 8-0 and 7-5.