SOFTBALL: Doerflein drives in seven as PCHS routs Ham-Co

Gabrielle Doerflein drove in seven runs and cranked a pair of homers including a grand slam in the top of the first inning as Pinckneyville hammered Hamilton County 15-1 in five innings on Wednesday.

Doerflein's slam capped off a seven-run first for the Lady Panthers. Maddie Jones also went for extra bases in the big inning, tripling to score Jordyn Wieland just moments into the game. Taylor Howard and Alyssa Hirsch also had RBIs in the opening frame during which eleven PCHS hitters came to the dish.

The game was well out of reach for the Lady Foxes in the top of the fifth when Doerflein went deep again, this time belting a three-run shot to bring in Howard and Kala Emling, who was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day. The home run was Doerflein's team-high third of the season.

Brooklyn Morrow held Hamilton County to one earned run on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts in her four innings of work on the rubber. Caitie Opp took over for a 1-2-3 fifth, striking out one.

Doerflein (2-4, 2 HR, 3 R, 7 RBI), Jones (2-4, 2 R, 4 RBI, 3B), Howard (2-4, R, RBI) and Emling (3-3, 2 R, 2B, RBI) led the offense for Pinckneyville.

The Lady Panthers (5-1) have the rest of this week off before Monday's trip to Trico.