Panthers rally past Hillsboro in 7th inning; Indians win rematch next day

HILLSBORO — Going into the seventh inning on Tuesday evening (April 15), the Hillsboro Indians held a two-run lead, needing just three outs to secure a Frontier Athletic Conference win. That scenario was on the table as the Indians had a fifth-inning surge of scoring with clutch hitting and base running that left them ahead by a 7-5 score.

Miami Trace had other plans in the top of the seventh, though, with the Panthers having a run-scoring rally of their own, scoring seven runs, then retiring the Indians in the bottom of the seventh for a 12-7 win over the host Hillsboro team Tuesday at Hillsboro High School.

The Indians and Panthers played close throughout the FAC game, with MTHS leading 2-1 after the first inning, but HHS eventually trailed at 4-1 once the top of the third was complete. HHS battled back, putting together a three-run bottom of the third for a 4-4 tied score.

MTHS regained the lead with a run crossing the plate in the top of the fifth, but the Indians had their best inning of the game with a three-run bottom of the fifth for a 7-5 lead.

Then came the top of the seventh as the Panthers took control with seven runs and the eventual 12-7 win. Miami Trace finished with 15 hits and seven errors, while HHS had eight hits and one error.

Going back to the first inning, it was Miami Trace striking first with the away team scoring the first run on a fielder’s choice, allowing Gage Bowers to cross home plate. The next at-bat saw a groundout to second base by Gaige Stuckey, scoring Brody McBee for the 2-0 lead of the Panthers.

HHS cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first with Jack Cornele hitting a two-out line drive single to plate Walker Pence for the 2-1 score.

In the top of the second, the Panthers built a 3-1 lead when Jameson Hyer scored on a passed ball with two outs. Then, in the top of the third, MTHS made it a 4-1 advantage with a run scored by McBee off a single hit by Evan Colegrove.

The Indians came back in a big way with three two-out runs, as the scoring rally started with Cornele taking first base on an error, and with Zack Brown already on the bases with a lead-off single, Brown raced around the bases for the run and a 4-2 deficit.

Hillsboro wasn’t finished adding runs in the inning, as Jeven Hochstuhl forced a walk, and during that at-bat, Cornele took third base. The Indians then tied the game at 4-4 when Brayden Oberrecht reached first base on an error in centerfield, scoring both Cornele and Hochstuhl.

Miami Trace took the lead back at 5-4 in the top of the fifth when Stuckey hit a single to right field to score Brown.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Indians had another three-run inning, beginning with a lead-off single by Nate Lane, and that was followed with Cornele reaching first base on on error. Hochstuhl added to the Indians’ rally with a sacrifice, advancing the runners each one base.

From there, after a second out was recorded, Luke Holland was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and then Gavin Greer doubled to centerfield, scoring all three base runners for a 7-5 Hillsboro lead.

The Indians had an opportunity to gain the FAC win, but the Panthers had that same opportunity and regained the lead for good in the top of the seventh as they had a sequence of a single by McBee, a walk by Austin Brown and Colegrove being hit by a pitch.

Then came the runs, as Stuckey hit a single to left field, scoring McBee. Next was a fielder’s choice to third base by Cam Morton, with the runner out at home.

With one out, Hyer singled to the shortstop, scoring Colegrove and advancing the base runners. Next came a pitching change, and Kenton Berry doubled to left field for Miami Trace, scoring Stuckey and Morton as Miami Trace led 9-7.

The Panthers added to their lead with Xavier Lawhorn taking first on an error, scoring Hyer. Miami Trace added another two runs in the inning with a Bowers single, scoring Lawhorn and Berry for the final 12-7 score. HHS was retired in order with three consecutive strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.

Stuckey was the winning pitcher for MTHS, pitching 0.2 innings with no runs or hits and two strikeouts. None of the seven runs scored by the Indians were earned runs.

The loss on the mound went to Oberrecht, who pitched 6.1 innings. Also pitching 0.2 innings for HHS was Brayden Hunter.

At the plate for HHS, Brown was 2-for-4 with one run, and Cornele went 2-for-4 (a double) with two runs and two RBI. Pence finished 1-for-3 with a run, Lane was 1-for-4 with a run, Oberrecht was 1-for-3 (a double) and Greer went 1-for-3 (a double) with three RBI.

HHS also had Hochstuhl collect one run and a walk, and Holland scored one run. Holland and Pence were both hit by a pitch. Oberrecht, Pence and Brown all had a steal.

MTHS was led by McBee at 3-for-5 (a double) with three runs. Stuckey finished 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI.

BOX SCORE
MTHS        211 919 7 — 12 15 7
HHS        103 030 0 — 7 8 1

—————

On Wednesday (April 16), the Indians returned the favor to their Frontier Athletic Conference counterpart, defeating the Miami Trace Panthers by a 10-2 score, as the Indians won the road game.

The Indians trailed 1-0 after the second inning, but took the lead with three runs in the top of the third. Next, they scored a run in the top of the fifth, and after each team scored a run in the sixth inning, the Indians led 5-2.

HHS put the game out of reach with a five-run top of the seventh inning for what became the 10-2 victory.

Hillsboro ended the game with eight hits and committed three errors. Miami Trace totaled four hits and committed five errors.

On the mound, the Indians had Luke Holland pitch the complete-game win. In seven innings, Holland allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts. He finished with 78 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Zack Brown finished 2-for-4 for Hillsboro with one walk, as one of his two hits was a double. He also had one steal.

Jack Cornele ended the game at 2-for-3 with Ione run and one walk, plus one of his two hits was also a double. Cornele also had a stolen base in the road FAC win.

Walker Pence went 1-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Nate Lane finished 1-for-5 with one RBI, and teammate Holland was 1-for-3 with three run and two RBI. Also with a hit for HHS was Wesley Bailey who was 1-for-2 with two runs, two steals and a walk.

Gavin Greer, Pence, Bailey, Jeven Hochstuhl and Holland each were hit by a pitch.

Hillsboro’s wins give them a regular-season series split with Miami Trace, and now HHS stands at 3-5 overall.

BOX SCORE
HHS    003 011 5 — 10 8 2
MTHS    010 001 0 — 2 5 4

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