Trojans suffer first loss at Lyons

Striking like a lightning bolt on a clear day, a two-run home run by Lyons pitcher Laura Pineda ultimately ended Hillsboro?s undefeated streak at 16 games by a 2-1 score May 4 at Lyons.

The Trojans bounced back with a 5-3 win in Game 2 to raise their record to 17-1 for the year. Lyons is 9-5.

In the top of the fourth inning of Game 1, Hills?boro took a 1-0 lead when Emily Jost singled, stole second and eventually scored, thanks to two passed balls.

Meanwhile, Trojan ace Julie Sinclair was sailing along with a one-hit shutout through the first 3 innings when Morgan Michaelis drew a one-out walk in the fourth.

After a fielder?s choice provided a second out, Pineda blasted a Sinclair pitch over the fence in left-center field to give her team a 2-1 lead.

It was the only offense Lyons generated in the game, and all that Pineda needed as she nailed down a four-hit upset victory for her team.

Almost as startling as Pineda?s home run was the way she throttled Hillsboro?s aggressive hitters. The Trojans managed only four hits?three by Jost?and never had more than one hit in an inning.

?Pineda is good but not that good?we popped up a lot,? coach Stephanie Sin?clair said. ?I was disappointed that we got down and just could not bounce back. We need to be more flexible and keep composure.?

With Hillsboro?s top five hitters in the lineup going 5-for-34 for the day, it was the bottom of the lineup that scored the winning runs in Game 2, which was a back-and-forth affair through the first four innings.

Lyons scored a run off starter Allison Weber in the first inning, but Hillsboro took the lead in the second on a two-out, two-run single by eight-hole hitter Mesa Merrell after Bradli Nowak reached on an error and Kennedy Lucero drew a walk.

Lyons tied the game in the third, but Sinclair put her team in front again, 3-2, in the top of the fourth by blasting Ruth Pineda?s pitch over the left-field fence for her first home run of the season.

After Lyons tied the game in the bottom of fourth, Coach Sinclair brought in Julie Sinclair to pitch the fifth inning. The lefty stymied the Lions on two hits over the final three innings.

With the scored tied 3-3 in the seventh inning, Merrell drew a walk. Savan?nah Unruh followed with a swinging bunt that prompted a throwing error by the pitcher. Merrell was able to score the go-ahead run and Unruh reached third.

Lead-off hitter Weber then singled home Unruh for team?s fifth run.

Sinclair, who absorbed the loss in Game 1, was awarded the win in Game 2 to raise her season record to 10-1.

Coming?After seven days off, the Trojans were scheduled to complete their regular season Tuesday with a triangular format involving Hesston and Halstead at Halstead. Each team was to play a single game against each of the other two teams.

Regional tournament play is scheduled to begin May 18 with Marion as the host school. Join?ing the Trojans and Warriors are Council Grove, Halstead, Hesston, Sedgwick and Remington.

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