In fact, the Trojans swept the Spartans on a blustery Friday at the Sports Complex, 7-4 in a come-from-behind win and 7-0 on a one-hitter by Marissa Diener.

Although undefeated, this Collegiate team wasn't the state power of recent years, but the wins were big for Hillsboro nonetheless.

"They are generally the toughest team on our regular season schedule," coach Carolyn Long said. "As a program, we knew this would be a good test for us. I'm really proud of the girls for stepping up."

The biggest difference in this Collegiate team from the past few seasons was the pitching.

Taking advantage of three walks and a run-allowing wild pitch by Collegiate starter Allison Harned, Hillsboro took an 2-0 lead in Game 1.

In the third inning, though, Collegiate broke loose for all four of its runs as Trojan starter Laura Lindsay gave up four hits and her teammates chipped in two errors.

Trailing 4-2, Hillsboro scored a run in the bottom of the inning on a walk to Amanda Bina, who stole second base. After a ground out, Emily Ratzlaff drove Bina home with a double.

The Trojans tied the game in the fourth when Harned walked the Trojans' No. 8 and 9 hitters, Suzy Lindsay and Sara Hamm, with one out. Following a double steal, Lindsay scored on a wild pitch with Amy Duerksen at the plate.

Hillsboro could have done more damage in the inning, as the Trojans went on to load the bases with one out. But Laura Lindsay flied out and Ratzlaff grounded out to end the threat.

Neither team scored again until the Trojans stepped up with three crucial runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Hamm walked to lead off, but was forced at second by Duerksen, who then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bina grounded a single up the middle to drive in Duerksen. She advanced to third on a ground out by Laura Lindsay. Ratzlaff followed with an infield single to score Bina.

After another wild pitch enable Ratzlaff to move into scoring position, Jessica Klose drove a ground ball into left field, and Ratzlaff came around to score the Trojans' seventh run.

"Going into the top of the sixth with a tie ballgame was a gut check time for us," Long said. "Defensively we only allowed three batters at the plate. Then the top of our line-up turned around and started what we needed offensively. Those three runs were the ball game. We had a great team effort."

Laura Lindsay surrendered a single to start the seventh, but then retired the next three hitters, including a game-ending strikeout to nail down the win.

The Trojan junior (4-3) gave up only five hits and finished with seven strikeouts. She walked one batter.

Fueled by Diener's pitching, the Trojans dominated Game 2. They set the tone by scoring a pair of runs in their first at-bat.

After Collegiate starter Sarah Burch walked lead-off hitter Duerksen, Bina moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. After Laura Lindsay walked, Burch uncorked a wild pitch that enabled Duerksen to score and Lindsay to move to third.

When Lindsay tried to score on a ground ball by Ratzlaff, she was thrown out at the plate. A stolen base and two more wild pitches by Burch enabled Ratzlaff to score Hillsboro's second run.

The Trojans added a third run in the third inning on a walk to Bina, who stole second and then scored on a base hit by Laura Lindsay.

Hillsboro took control of the contest with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Duerksen singled, Bina walked and then Laura Lindsay drove Duerksen home with a base hit.

After one wild pitch enabled Bina to score, Ratzlaff walked on a wild ball four that brought Lindsay home from third.

The final Trojan run came in the sixth when Laura Skiles tripled with two outs and eventually scored on a fielding error.

Diener (5-2) allowed only three base runners in the game-two on walks and one on a fielding error. The senior right-hander struck five Spartan batters, including the final one in the bottom of the seventh.

"Marissa threw an outstanding second game for us," Long said. "It was nice to see her get the shutout. When they did connect with the ball, our defense was able to make the plays. She and Laura are both throwing well right now."

Both teams were battered all afternoon by cold, unrelenting winds out of the northwest that made every fly ball and pop-up an adventure.

"We were not going to use the elements as an excuse on Friday," Long said. "Both teams played under the same conditions. It was certainly the worst weather we've played in all year. I think our girls wanted it more than they did. That became more obvious to me as the games went on and we adjusted to the conditions."

Coming-The twin-bill sweep improved Hillsboro's record to 9-5 for the season and gave the Trojans their ninth win in the last 10 games.

A scheduling break gives Hillsboro the week off from competition, but not from some hard work, according to Long.

"We will use this week without games to work on specifics," she said. "We will probably focus one whole day on offense and another on defense. One day we'll have an intrasquad scrimmage. They like that and it breaks things up a little. It also allows us to work on game-like scenarios."

Hillsboro's next games will be a doubleheader Tuesday, May 3, against Haven. Those games will be played at the Sports Complex, with the first game starting at 4:30 p.m.