By ADAM STEWART

Staff writer

It took 10 innings, good defense, and adjustments for a strong north wind, but the Hillsboro High School softball team earned a 3-2 victory in the first game of their doubleheader against Nickerson on Friday.

The Trojans fell behind, 1-0, in the second inning after Nickerson’s Yolanda Coral reached base safely due to the only error HHS committed in the game.

The Trojans tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the second. Courtney Weber started the inning with a long double over the center fielder’s head. A sacrifice bunt by Amy Bartel moved Weber to third base, and Weber scored on a bunt hit by Danae Bina.

Bina safely stole second base despite a hard collision with the Nickerson player a couple feet before the base that knocked both players to the ground. A single by Krista Reimer advanced Bina to third base, but Bina was called out trying to steal home.

Nickerson again took the lead in the top of the third inning, 2-1, and it wouldn’t be until the bottom of the sixth inning that the Trojans would tie the game up again. With one out, Weber hit a single to left field, and Bartel again moved Weber on the bases with a sacrifice bunt. Bina drove Weber home with a triple to the deep corner of right field

Still tied at 2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Taylor Nikkel reached second base with one out, but the Trojans were unable to drive her home.

Hillsboro’s pitching and defense kept Nickerson out of scoring position until the top of the 10th inning. Nickerson’s Mariah Rodriguez reached second base with two outs with help from a sacrifice bunt by Keona Jordan, but a groundout to second base ended the scoring threat.

Stephanie Sanders started the bottom of the tenth inning getting on base due to a dropped fly ball to center field. Sammy Koons moved Sanders to second base with a sacrifice bunt. A sacrifice fly by Weber allowed Sanders to reach third base, and Bartel hit the game-winning single down the right field line, driving Sanders home.

Coach Stephanie Sinclair said the players entered the game determined not to make the same mistakes that cost them a game against Pratt on March 29. She also credited her players for smart base running in the game. The strong north wind made it difficult to get extra-base hits, and the players adjusted and played small ball, making several sacrifice bunts.

Game 1 Offensive stats

Amy Bartel: 1 H, 1 RBI, 2 SAC.

Danae Bina: 2 H, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 SB.

Allie Faul: 1 H.

Sammy Koons: 1 H, 1 SAC.

Tena Loewen: 1 H.

Taylor Nikkel: 1 H, 1 BB.

Krista Reimer: 2 H.

Stephanie Sanders: 1 R, 1 H.

Courtney Weber: 2 R, 2 H, 1 2B, 1 SAC.

Game 1 pitching stats

Courtney Weber: 10 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K.

Game 2

The second game of the doubleheader provided more offense. Hillsboro fell in an early 4-1 hole, but rallied to take a 5-4 lead. Both teams’ runs were fueled by bunts, Sinclair said.

The second game also went into extra innings, tied at 7 after seven innings. The Trojans had a costly base running mistake late in the game. They could have had the game-winning run if a runner had waited for a throw to first base. Instead she went too early and was thrown out, Sinclair said.

Nickerson won the game, 8-7, in 10 innings. Courtney Weber pitched all of both games, while Allie Faul caught all 20 innings for the Trojans.