SOFTBALL: Pitching, defense lift Lady Indians at A-J

Du Quoin needed only five hits to pull out a 3-1 softball win at Anna-Jonesboro on Friday as Mackenzie Jackson built off her no-hitter earlier in the week with another solid performance in the circle.

"We got the win but, it's a frustrating win," said DHS head coach Jason James. "We expect so much more and right now, we are settling. We work on things in practice and look like we are making strides, then we get in the game and go right back to our old ways. We are a better team than what we are showing right now and that is up to me to get fixed."

The Lady Indians' first three base runners all scored, but the remaining five were all stranded. Marisa Ferguson reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first to get Du Quoin on the board, then Timbra Mansfield had an RBI triple to bring in Tarynn Mays, courtesy running for Afton Robinson (walk). Manfield would later score after an error to give DHS a 3-0 edge.

Jackson made that hold up with some help from her defense. After a triple and a wild pitch led to Anna-Jonesboro's run in the fourth, Jackson again saw some trouble in the bottom of the fifth. But back to back singles in that inning didn't lead to any damage after a rare 9-2-5 double play turned by Du Quoin retiring one runner at home plate and the other at third base.

Jackson then retired the side in order in the sixth before pitching around a leadoff single in the seventh. She allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Du Quoin's hits came from Jackson (1-4), Robinson (1-1, 2 BB), Mansfield (1-3, R, RBI, 3B), Amanda Atteberry (1-4) and Sydney Lewis (1-3).

The Lady Indians (12-11, 3-4) will get a crack at unbeaten Nashville on Monday in Du Quoin.