Harrisburg takes two from Indians
After a heartbreaking loss to Benton late last week - a loss that snapped a 19 game win streak to start the season - Harrisburg hit the reset button and did so getting back to their old ways.
After a 10-0 shutout of Murphysboro on Friday, Harrisburg took two from Du Quoin in a doubleheader Saturday as the Bulldogs won a pair of 4-0 victories.
Holding down a record of 22-1 overall now, Harrisburg has outscored the opposition 215-22, which includes 13 shutouts this spring.
Andrew Bittle picked up the win on the mound in Game 1 for Harrisburg as the senior right hander is now 5-0 on the season, tossing a four hitter and striking out 10 in the win.
Colby Morse came on out in the bullpen in relief and struck out two.
Harrisburg plated a run in the third and fourth inning, before chasing Du Quoin starter David Lee after six innings, where he gave up four runs (one earned) on nine hits, while striking out four and walking one.
Kolby Morse singled on a hard ground ball to center field, scoring Luke Miller in the third and Javie Beal singled on a line drive to left field, scoring Riley King in the fourth. The Bulldogs posted a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh, scoring one a couple of passed balls.
Beal went 3-for-4 in the leadoff role for Harrisburg, finishing with an RBI. Krayton Morse had an RBI, going 2-for-3. Noah Boon, Ben Brombaugh, Andrew Bittle and Jackson Pittman all had one hit.
Du Quoin was led at the plate by a 2-for-3 performance from David Lee, while Caden Hutchens and Owen Cornett both had a hit for the Indians.
In Game 2, it was much of the same as the Bulldogs scored a run in the third and then tacked on a run in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning.
Peyton Arnold picked up the win for Harrisburg, going six innings, giving up just four hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Morse picked up another save, striking out three.
Brian Winters took the loss on the bump for the Indians, giving up two runs on seven hits over four innings. Owen Cornett came on in relief, working three innings, giving up two runs on three hits with one strikeout and three walks.
Colby Morse scored on an Andrew Bittle single to left in the third and in the fifth, Brombaugh scored Krayton Morse on a bunt single. Krayton Morse had a sacrifice fly in the sixth, scoring King and Bittle scored in the seventh on a ground out by Cameron And.
Colby Morse, Brombaugh and Bittle all had multiple hits for Harisburg, while Beal, Ande, King and Pittman had one hit.
Slade West, Owen Bradley, Rice and Winters all had a hit for Du Quoin
<b>Harrisburg 10, Murphysboro 0</b>
Harrisburg picked up a 10-0 win over Murphysboro at home Friday afternoon.
Noah Boon picked up the win on the bump as the right hander threw a no-hitter, striking out five over six innings.
Harrisburg had 17 hits on the day as Ben Brombaugh went 4-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and a run scored. Luke Miller and Jackson Pittman each had three hits and scored two runs, while Miller finished with an RBI.
Colby Morse and Krayton Morse were both 2-for-4 as Krayton drove in two runs and scored one run. Colby Morse finished with an RBI, while Javie Beal, Andrew Bittle and Riley King all had one hit. Beal finished with a team-high three RBI, while King scored two runs and Bittle scored one.
Harrisburg was scheduled to play at Herrin Monday and travel to Anna-Jonesboro on Tuesday. On Thursday, Harrisburg is at Carterville and will close out the week at home against Massac County on Friday and host Fairfield on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Spyder Dann covers prep and college sports for the Southern Illinois LOCAL Media Group. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.