Jackson softball moves to 4-0

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. ­-- After giving up just one run in each of their first three games, the Jackson Indians finally kept a team off the scoreboard Thursday, beating district-rival Poplar Bluff 2-0.

Jessica Tuschhoff's five-hit shutout featured four strikeouts, no walks and nine pop flys.

"She feels confident with the defense behind her," Jackson coach Amanda Forester said. "I tell her every day to go out there and throw it and if it's working, it's working. And if it's not, we've got your back.

"She did a great job."

Kelci Keith provided the offense with a pair of singles that scored leadoff hitter Hana Bolen from second.

Bolen had three hits and reached on an error while Keith had three more of Jackson's nine hits, driving in the first run with one out in the first and the second with two outs in the third.

In both innings, Bolen moved into scoring position on bunts by Amanda Pitts, who sacrificed herself in all four plate appearances Thursday.

"She's doing great and she understands her role so that makes it nice," said Forester of Pitts.

Tuschhoff blanked the Mules (3-1) by keeping the leadoff hitter off base and forcing pop flys with inside pitches.

Senior catcher Jessica Pitts picked off Poplar Bluff's only leadoff hitter to reach base in the fourth inning and the Mules left four runners in scoring position as Tuschhoff pitched around singles in the first, second, third and seventh.

After Bolen singled in the third and moved to second on a bunt., Keith sent an 0-2 pitch into right field to score Bolen.

In the third, Bolen reached on an error with one out and moved to second on a bunt. Keith pounced on the first pitch she saw, sending it up the middle where it hit second base and bounced behind the bag. Again, Bolen raced home before the throw to give Jackson a 2-0 lead.

Jackson's Roxanna Miller had two hits, including a double.

JACKSON 2, POPLAR BLUFF 0

Jackson 101 000 0 -- 2 9 0

Poplar Bluff 000 000 0 -- 0 4 2

WP ­-- Jessica Tuschhoff. LP -- Julie Maloney. 2B -- Roxanna Miller (J). Multiple hits -- Jackson, Hana Bolen 2-3, Kelci Keith 3-4, Roxanna Miller 2-3. Records -- Jackson 4-0. Poplar Bluff 3-1.

JV -- Jackson 6, Poplar Bluff 4