BASEBALL: Walks, stranded runners bite DHS at Benton

Rangers Logan Threlkeld and Gus Gibbs put the finishing touches on Benton's 12-4 baseball win over Du Quoin with their home runs as the Indians stranded ten base runners while handing out seven walks.

"We just had too many walks to overcome," said DHS head baseball coach Tim Craft. "Give a team like Benton extra base runners and they are going to find a way to make you pay."

Levi Brening's two-run homer in the top of the first kept Du Quoin in front until a walk to Benton's Cole Richardson turned into the tying run for the Rangers in the bottom of the second.

Benton then took a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the third, turning three walks, two singles and a Du Quoin error into three runs.

Ryne O'Rourke answered for DHS with a solo homer in the top of the fourth, but the Rangers kept pouring it on no matter who the Indians sent to the mound. Threlkeld's three-run homer capped a five-run fourth for Benton, Gibbs' two-run shot came in the fifth.

Brening (3-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR, BB), O'Rourke (2-2, R, RBI, 2B, HR, BB, HBP), Jacob Valier (1-4), A.J. Smith (1-4, R), Brock Bullar (3-4), Braden Lee (1-4) and Ashton Smith (2-4, RBI) had hits for Du Quoin.

The Indians (13-10, 6-3) host Waltonville on Thursday, Anna-Jonesboro on Friday.