Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
NASHVILLE — In a matchup of not only two of the top teams in the SIRR Mississippi, but two of the top teams in the region, the Du Quoin Indians handed the Nashville Hornets their first loss of the season. Senior Eli Maynor and freshman Cy Craft combined on a four-hit shutout, in the Indians’ 4-0 win to take over first place in the conference race.
Maynor worked around trouble on multiple occasions, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, while striking out seven and walking five. He left with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth, but Craft came in and struck out Parker Renken to end the threat.
Nashville put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Craft got Will Diedrich to bounce out to Maynor at third base for a force out to end the game.
Jaden DeMarie led the Indians’ offensive attack with RBI singles in the third and fourth. Cooper Rice drew a bases loaded walk, and Trent Mazur added a sacrifice fly in Du Quoin’s three-run third inning.
With the win, the Indians improve to 18-1, 4-0 in the conference. Nashville falls to 15-1, 4-1 in the conference.
