Staff writer
Early leads did not define the end result for Hillsboro and Kingman high school baseball teams Thursday.
The Trojans took their first lead of the series in the first inning after pitcher Austin Cross retired the first three batters in Kingman’s lineup. With no outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the inning, Cross grounded into a double play but scored leadoff batter Micah Allen.
In the bottom of the third inning, Hillsboro moved to scoring position when Jordan Faul, David Dick, and Justus Hilliard again loaded the bases. A sacrifice bunt from Hanschu scored Faul, but the Trojans would not score again in the inning.
Down 2-0, the Eagles outscored Hillsboro 4-1 in the last four innings to pull out the 4-3 victory.
Kingman would strike first in the second game, scoring four runs in the first inning.
Down 4-1 in the bottom of the third, though, the Trojans charged back. Five of the first seven Hillsboro batters walked in the inning, tying the game at 4. A sacrifice fly by Dylan Nelson scored another run for a 5-4 Trojan lead.
With two outs in the top of the fourth, a double scored one run for the Eagles, tying the game at 5. The Trojans took the lead again with their next opportunity when Faul doubled on a Kingman error.
Kingman again tied the game at six at the top of the sixth, but Hillsboro took a two-run lead in the bottom of the sixth after Hanschu singled, scoring Cross. Kingman scored one more run at the top of the seventh inning, but the Trojans held on for an 8-7 victory.
Hillsboro plays next at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Hillsboro against Canton-Galva.