SOFTBALL: Fast start fizzles for DMS against Trico

Du Quoin Middle School got off to a strong start at the plate, scoring four times in the bottom of the first inning, but couldn't hold off visiting Trico in Tuesday's junior high softball matchup as the Lady Pioneers stormed back for a 15-7 victory.

Three consecutive RBI hits by Aubrey Barwick (single), Maddie Robison (two-run single) and Maya Russell (double) put Du Quoin up 4-1 after one, but an ugly top of the third inning would spoil the solid beginning to the game for the Lady Warriors.

The first seven Trico batters reached base in the third - three on walks, another on an error - and the Lady Pioneers plated every single one of them in a five-hit, seven-run rally.

Trico added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning after a walk, a single and a double, building their lead up to 10-4.

Du Quoin tried to stay in it, however, stringing together a double by Lauren Heape and a single by Emma Fischer during a three-run bottom of the fourth. Waller added an RBI on a ground ball out during the inning, and DMS was down just three at 10-7.

But Trico kept coming, adding two more runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth, taking advantage of four walks and an error during that stretch.

"I played a lot of young kids tonight and wasn't overly disappointed," said Lady Warriors head coach Jason James. "I got to see some good things. Don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go but once we build a little more consistency we will get there. I hate losing but I was proud of the effort today."

Barwick (1-4, R, RBI), Robison (1-4, R, 2 RBI), Russell (1-3, RBI, 2B, HBP), Heape (1-4, R), Fischer (1-3, R), Abbi Mocaby (1-4) and Lexi Cobin (2-2) had hits for Du Quoin. Robison took the loss in the pitching circle.