Jackson Legion rolls past Perryville 14-4

~ Jackson pounded out 15 hits in a six-inning home victory.

The Jackson American Legion baseball team came out swinging Monday night, pounding 15 hits en route to a six-inning, 14-4 victory over visiting Perryville in the first game of a doubleheader.

The scheduled seven-inning game was stopped due to the 10-run mercy rule.

In spite of some shaky defense -- Jackson committed four errors in the game -- Jackson was able to hold on for the win. The home squad scored five runs in the first and led 7-0 after two innings.

"We swung the bat well up and down the lineup," Jackson coach Mark Lewis said. "We were able to string together a few hits, and that's something we haven't been doing very well."

Jackson added six more runs in the fourth before scoring its final run in the bottom of the sixth.

Chad MInson, who went 4-for-5, led the way for Jackson. Brandon Cooper and Cameron Heath added two hits and two RBIs apiece, and starting pitcher Logan Lawson helped his own cause with three RBIs on two hits.

On the mound, Lawson struck out three and gave up five hits in six innings to earn the win.

"Logan kept the ball down, got some ground balls and kept us in it," Lewis said. "He didn't have his best stuff, but he battled through it."

Jackson improved to 5-8 with the victory, while Perryville fell to 0-6.

Results from the second game were not available when the Southeast Missourian went to press.