BASEBALL: O'Rourke, Smith spark Indians against Redbirds

Ryne O'Rourke and Ashton Smith - Du Quoin's No. 7 & 8 hitters - both had three-hit days at the plate as the Indians hammered away on West Frankfort 12-2 in six innings on Wednesday afternoon. Jacob Valier tossed a complete game and allowed five hits and two walks with two strikeouts to get the victory.

"We keep getting great contributions throughout the entire lineup," said DHS head baseball coach Tim Craft. "Ryne O'Rourke and Ashton Smith are doing a great job at the bottom of our lineup. Jacob did a great job being aggressive and throwing strikes. His defense was great behind him."

Valier singled and scored on Brock Bullar's RBI base hit in the bottom of the first to give the Indians a 1-0 lead, but the Redbirds tied it up in the top of the second inning after a double by Dalton O'Conner and an RBI single by Jacob Bartoni.

Du Quoin didn't jump out in front again until the bottom of the third inning, when with two outs, A.J. Smith and Brening doubled, then Bullar drove in Brening to make it 3-1. O'Rourke and Ashton Smith later singled, giving DHS a three-run cushion at 4-1.

Singles by Cole Hopkins and Ethan Keller along with a sacrifice by Valier, a West Frankfort error, a walk and a hit batter landed Du Quoin two more runs in the fourth inning.

Ashton Smith (single) and Keller (fielder's choice) had RBIs in the fifth for DHS, then Braden Lee (bases-loaded walk) and O'Rourke (three-run double) helped end it in the sixth.

Keller (1-4, R, RBI), Valier (1-3, RBI, SAC), A.J. Smith (2-3, 2 R, 2B, BB), Brening (1-1, 2 R, RBI, 2B, HBP, 2 BB), Bullar (2-2, 2 R, 2 RBI, HBP, BB), O'Rourke (3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2 2B), Ashton Smith (3-3, R, 2 RBI) and Hopkins (1-2, R, BB) had Du Quoin's fourteen hits against three Redbirds pitchers.

The Indians (16-10, 7-3) host Trico on Friday, Carmi White County on Saturday.