A five-run second inning was all the offense Hillsboro needed to secure a 5-3 softball win over Hoisington and a doubleheader sweep April 7 in Hillsboro.
The Trojans won the first game 10-0 behind a run-rule no-hitter from pitcher Julie Sinclair.
Karisa Schremmer, the pitcher the Tro?jans tagged for eight hits and seven runs in the opener, found her stride in Game 2. The junior scattered three hits over five shutout innings, but the Trojans touched her for four hits in the game-changing second frame.
With Hillsboro trailing, 1-0, Shannon Heiser made it to first when a fielder?s throw pulled the first-baseman?s foot off the bag. Sinclair followed with a double and Kennedy Lucero walked to load the bases.
The Trojans then scored in successive at-bats on a single by Samantha Moss, a fielder?s choice ground out by Sarah Jost and a bloop single by Allison Weber. A base-loaded single by Emily Jost drove in the fourth and fifth runs.
That was all the offense Weber needed from her team?mates. The senior right-hander limited the Cardinals to single runs in the third and fifth innings, both aided by a Trojan error.
In the opener, Hillsboro greeted Schremmer with a three-run first inning fueled by a two-run opposite-field triple by Madi?son Klein.
?I believe we were determined to get on the scoreboard because we knew she was a good pitcher,? coach Stephanie Sinclair said about the strong start. ?We had heard about her curve ball and tried to focus on that some in practice.?
After a scoreless second inning, the Trojans added four runs in the third and three in the fourth.
?I think the girls really feed off each other when we start hitting,? Sinclair said.
Nowak led the attack with three hits, including a double, in three at-bats and drove in four runs.
Meanwhile, the Card?inals? only offensive success against Sinclair was two walks. Of the 15 outs she needed, 12 were strikeouts.
It was her second five-inning shutout victory in two starts.
?Pitching for Julie has been exceptional,? coach Sinclair said of the senior left-hander. ?She had a good work ethic during basketball season to throw a lot and refine herself. I think that has been key for her being so successful starting the season. Also, our catchers do a great job calling pitches and selling them to the umpire.?
Coming?The Trojans (4-0) were to return to action Tuesday with a home doubleheader against Pratt. Kingman will come to town Friday for a twinbill starting at 4 p.m.
