Trojans sweep 3 teams last week

Julie Sinclair pitched a shutout in a 10-0 Game 2 victory over Sterling. She gave up one walk and struck out seven batters in her fifth shutout in six starts. Phyllis Richert Photo

The Hillsboro softball team doubled its season output?and success?with a sweep of three doubleheaders last week.

The Trojans swept King?man on Monday, Larned on Tuesday and Sterling on Friday to improve to 12-0 for the season.

Sterling?Julie Sinclair continued her mastery of the mound by throwing a hour-hit shutout in a 10-0 victory in Game 2 at the Sports Complex.

The Trojans outscored the Black Bears in Game 1, 12-6 with Allison Weber picking up the win. Both Trojan pitchers are 6-0 for the year.

In the nightcap, Sinclair walked one and struck out seven for her fifth shutout in six starts.

The Trojans scored in the bottom of the second inning to provide the only plate support Sinclair needed.

The score remained 1-0 until the Trojans added two scores in the fourth and finished the run-rule quota with a seven-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth.

Sinclair was hot at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 and scoring twice. Bradli Nowak and Shannon Heiser each drove in two runs.

Both teams were offensive-minded in the first game. Sterling led 1-0 after one inning then tied the game at 2-2 with a run in the third.

The Trojans appeared to take control with a four-run fourth inning and a 7-2 lead. But the Black Bears rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth and another in the sixth to pull within 7-6.

A five-run burst in the bottom of the inning pulled the Trojans safely ahead.

Emily Jost led Hills?boro?s 14-hit attack with a 4-for-4 performance at the plate with three runs scored and three driven in. Madison Klein went 3-for-4 and scored three times. Nowak contributed her third home run of the season.

Meanwhile, Weber gave up seven hits and walked six batters, but she also accumulated a season-high 12 strikeouts.

Larned?The Trojans made the long trip to Larned by sweeping the Indians, 2-0 and 5-4, in a pair of tough battles.

With Julie Sinclair throwing her first seven-inning no-hitter of the year, Hillsboro only needed the run they scored in the top of first inning.

But the game turned into a pitching duel with Lar?ned?s Shay Shepherd, who matched the Trojan lefty inning for inning until Hillsboro squeezed a second run in the top of the fifth.

A great catch by Savan?nah Unruh in the fourth inning robbed the Indians of a home run.

In Game 2, Hillsboro built a 5-1 lead by scoring in each of the first four innings. But Larned rallied against starter Allison Weber for three runs in the bottom of the inning on three consecutive hits, including a two-run triple.

But Weber didn?t allow another hit the rest of the way and finished with a three-hitter that included 11 strikeouts.

Klein led the Trojans? 13-hit attack with three hits in five at-bats while Weber, Jost and Sinclair each chipped in two hits.

Kingman?The Trojans maintained control through?out last Monday?s doubleheader with the Eagles and finished with a 6-1 and 14-2 sweep at the Sports Com?plex.

One of the more notable moments came in the fourth inning of the opener when Kingman scored the first run of the season against starter Julie Sinclair, ending her scoreless streak at 201?3 innings.

Sinclair walked the leadoff batter, who scored on a triple one out later.

?We know statistically that it is crucial not to put runners on, especially the lead-off batter,? coach Stephanie Sinclair said. ?She will work on this.?

Bradli Nowak fueled Hillsboro?s nine-hit attack with a pair of doubles and three RBIs in three at-bats.

In Game 2, after spotting Kingman a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, Hillsboro responded with a four-run inning burst in its first at-bat and a nine-run third inning on the way to the five-inning run-rule victory.

Weber allowed only two hits and one earned run to pick up her fourth win of the year. Nowak went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and one driven in.

Coming?The Trojans were scheduled to play at Nickerson Tuesday, then will travel to Haven Friday.

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