BASEBALL: Brening's double leads to fifth straight win for DHS
For six innings, it appeared as though the Indians' four-game winning streak would come to an end as Murphysboro led 2-0 heading to the seventh, but Levi Brening saved the day with a bases-loaded double before coming on to get the final three outs on the mound as Du Quoin came away with a 3-2 victory.
"That was a great game by both teams," said DHS head baseball coach Tim Craft. "We had a lot of opportunities but just couldn't get a hit when we needed it. We finally we able to break through in the seventh. Levi came through for us big time. The batters ahead of him did a great job of getting on base ahead of him."
The game was moved to the Ballpark at DHS due to wet field conditions at Murphysboro, making the Devils the home team despite playing on the road. In the bottom of the first inning, Murphy's Noah Baird and Dylan Brasel led off with singles and later scored on a bases-loaded walk to Matt Burke and a wild pitch to give the Red Devils their lead against Du Quoin starter Jacob Valier.
Valier would find himself on the hill, though, and didn't allow another run. The right-hander pitched around a pair of base runners in both the third and fifth innings, finishing with two earned runs allowed on seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings of work.
"Jacob really threw a great game after the first inning," Craft said. "To make it to the seventh and give us a chance to win was huge."
Offensively, the Indians struggled to find a timely hit for the bulk of the afternoon. Brening led off the second with a double, but was stranded. Du Quoin loaded the bases in both the third and fourth innings, but came up with nothing to show for it.
When the top of the seventh rolled around, Murphysboro was still ahead 2-0 when Ashton Smith started the Indians' crucial rally with a leadoff single. After two fielder's choice plays and a walk to A.J. Smith, the bases were loaded with two outs for Brening, who smacked a 3-1 pitch to clear the sacks for 3 RBIs.
Brening then took over for Valier in the bottom of the seventh and gave up a walk and a single before fanning Murphysboro's Landon Harris to record the save.
Brening (2-4, 3 RBI, 2B), Smith (2-3), Brock Bullar (1-3, BB), Braden Lee (1-3) and Ryne O'Rourke (1-3) had hits for the Indians.
Du Quoin (18-10) goes for six straight wins at Carlyle on Tuesday afternoon before hosting Z-R-C on Wednesday.