The Hillsboro baseball team is still looking for its first win after dropping a pair of games against Hoi?s?ington April 7 at Memorial Field.
For the third game in a row, the Trojans lost a lead in the later innings for an 8-6 setback in Game 1, then suffered a 12-4 loss in the nightcap to fall to 0-4 for the young season.
?The kids are battling, they?re competing,? coach Doug Dick said. ?We?re just a mistake or two away from getting those wins.?
In the opener, the Trojans took a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a three-run burst. A double by Austin Cross chased home David Dick and Jakob Hanschu; Cross scored on a ground out by Tyson Reimer.
After the Cardinals countered with three runs in the top of the fifth, Hillsboro tied the game in its next at-bat on a run-scoring single by Hanschu.
A pair of Trojan errors led to Hoisington?s winning runs in the sixth.
Starter Braden Vogt threw 42?3 innings in his second start of the season.
?Braden did really well.? Dick said. ?He had a rough second inning, but he battled through it and had a good third and fourth inning. When his pitch count got up, I needed to pull him.?
Cross (0-1) absorbed the loss during his 21?3 innings of relief work. The two runs he allowed were unearned.
Hillsboro never led in Game 2. The Cardinals jumped on freshman starter Kaden Kleiner for three runs in the first inning. The Trojans were still within striking distance through five innings, trailing 5-3.
?I was really pleased with his effort,? Dick said of Kleiner. ?To come out and pitch well for four innings, he kept us in the game.?
Unfortunately, Hoisington roughed up reliever Micah Allen for seven runs in the sixth, putting victory beyond reach.
For the day, Hanschu led the Trojan attack with four hits and four runs batted in with six official at-bats.
The first four batters in the Tro?jan lineup?Allen, David Dick, Hanschu and Cross?accounted for 10 of Hills?boro?s 12 hits for the doubleheader.
?I?m pleased with the way we?re playing offensively, for the most part,? Dick said. ?(We need to) get some of those guys consistent about putting the ball in play. I think we have some guys who can lay down bunts, and we probably need to do a little more of that to get people in position.?
Coming?Hillsboro was scheduled to host Pratt for a doubleheader Tuesday, with Kingman coming to Memorial Field Friday for a pair of games with a 4 p.m. start.
