It’s hard to lose when you don’t allow a run.

Hillsboro High School earned a 3A state birth Tuesday after defeating SE of Saline, 10-0, and Beloit, 5-0.

The top-seeded Trojans did not allow a run in their first game, however it was a bye because the tournament had only seven teams.

Jacob Edwards threw a complete-game shutout in the championship round, popping his catcher’s mitt in the seventh inning just as he did in the first.

The Trojans got on the board when Ben Bebermeyer doubled to left and eventually scored on a throwing error.

It was all Edwards would need, but Tyler Ediger and Aaron Bina had run-scoring singles in the third.

Ediger had a sac fly and Chris Couts an RBI-single in the fourth to cap the scoring.

When Edwards induced a fly out to end the game, HHS head coach Phil Oelke raised his arms in delight and the Trojans celebrated on the pitcher’s mound.

The 18-5 Trojans will play May 29 in Manhattan for a chance at a state title.