In the nightcap, Hillsboro trailed 4-3 in its last at-bat. But the Trojans made quick work of their game-winning rally. Steph Abbott walked on four pitches to start the inning, freshman Taylor Nikkel followed with a single and then Sanders chased them both home with her first-pitch single.
Hillsboro had built a 3-0 lead through the first two innings. In the first, Amanda Bina doubled, then scored on a single by Jessica Klose. In the second inning, Bina drove in two runs with a triple after Jandi Nikkel had singled and Bri Loewen had reached on a fielder?s choice.
But Halstead rallied with two-run innings in the fourth and sixth to take the lead. Pitcher Jenesa Klose gave up three hits each of those innings?compared to only one hit the rest of the game.
Halstead?s lead-off hitter and standout player, Stephanie Drake, ripped a double in the fourth and a triple in the sixth, scoring both times. She finished 5-for-8 on the day.
Bina matched Drake?s double and triple in four at bats in Game 2, driving in two runs and scoring one. For the day the senior slugger was 4-for-7 with a double, two triples and five RBI, raising her season batting average to .552 and her slugging percentage to 1.172.
In Game 1, Halstead jumped to a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat on three singles and a Trojan error. Hillsboro countered with a run in the bottom of the inning, thanks to two Halstead errors.
Hillsboro then took the lead for good with three runs in the bottom of the third. With one out, Jenesa Klose, Taylor Nikkel and Loewen strung together consecutive singles.
One out later and with one run in, Bina followed with a two-run triple.
Hillsboro added two runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Halstead scored twice in the top of the seventh on a walk, two hits and a Hillsboro error, but Bina threw out a potential third run at the plate to end the rally.
In addition to Bina?s output with the bat, Loewen and Jandi Nikkel each chipped in two hits toward Hillsboro?s nine-hit attack.
With the sweep, the Trojans and pitcher Jenesa Klose improved to 5-3 for the season. The senior hurler struck out nine Dragons during the day, walking only two while scattering 15 hits in 14 innings.
Coming?Hillsboro?s scheduled doubleheader with Smoky Valley on Friday was postponed because of the weather. At press time, those games had not been rescheduled.
Hillsboro was slated to play host to Hoisington on Tuesday. The Trojans won?t play again until Sterling comes to town on Tuesday, April 22.
