BASEBALL: Stranded runners cost Du Quoin at West Frankfort

The Indians got to West Frankfort hurler Hunter Hancock in the top of the first inning on Wednesday, but couldn't build on their early lead while the Redbirds scored in each of their last four at-bats to hold off Du Quoin 8-3.

A.J. Smith singled in front of a two-run homer by Levi Brening to give the Indians a 2-0 lead that lasted until the bottom of the third inning. There, Hancock singled and scored on a two-out double by Kyle Sailiez to cut the lead in half.

The Redbirds blasted their way on top with Dalton O'Conner's three-run home run in the fourth against Brening, the Indians' starter, and chipped on an insurance run in the fifth and three more in the sixth. West Frankfort finished the game with ten hits - one less than Du Quoin's eleven.

But the Indians left a dozen runners on base, stranding at least one runner per inning.

Smith (1-3, R, BB), Brening (2-4, R, 2 RBI, HR), Ethan Keller (2-5), Brock Bullar (2-4), Braden Lee (2-2, R, 2 HBP), Ryne O'Rourke (1-4) and Jordan Edwards (1-3) had hits for the Indians. Cole Hopkins (0-3, RBI, BB) added an RBI.

Du Quoin (3-4) is at Mt. Vernon on Friday.