SOFTBALL: Lady Warriors sting Nashville with walk-off win
Through four-and-a-half innings, Nashville was all over Du Quoin 9-2 in Tuesday's softball regular season finale. But with four runs in each of their final three at-bats, the Lady Warriors grabbed their second win in as many days - doing so in walk-off fashion - 14-13 at home.
Down three heading into the bottom of the seventh, DMS started the inning with singles by Ella Hirsch and Bailey Harsy. Chloe Hess picked up an RBI with a ground ball out, then Avery Waller singled home Harsy to make it a one-run game. Aubrey Barwick then grounded into a fielder's choice before Braylee Watson was hit by a pitch.
That brought Lauren Heape to the plate, who got down in the count 0-2 before working a walk to load the bases. Abbi Mocaby then delivered the knockout blow, a two-out, two-run single up the middle to plate the tying and go-ahead runs.
"It was one of those games that through the first four innings you just wanted to strangle them," said DMS head coach Jason James, "but we kept battling and never have in. We had a lot of girls step up again late and I couldn't be more proud of them. Waller, Barwick and Watson were huge at the plate today coming up with big RBIs. Last inning two outs, two on with two sixth graders up... Heape works an 0-2 count into a walk and Mocaby lines a pitch up the middle for the walk-off win - what a game!"
Nashville had six hits and nine runs through three innings, but only three hits the rest of the game, all of which came in the top of the seventh.
Waller finished a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with 3 runs scored and 3 driven in. Barwick (2-4, 4 R, 3 RBI, 2B, BB) and Watson (2-4, R, 2 RBI, HBP) each had a pair of hits. Hirsch (1-5, R), Harsy (1-4, 3 R, BB) and Mocaby (1-5, 2 RBI) also hits safely for the Lady Warriors.
Up next for Du Quoin is Thursday's 4:30 p.m. Class L Regional semifinal against Benton, the tournament host. The winner advances to Saturday's championship against either West Frankfort or Johnston City on Saturday at 10 a.m.