Bangor’s Andrew Piske went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the visiting Cardinals to a 5–3 Scenic Bluffs victory over Hillsboro Monday.

The Tigers took a 5–0 lead in game two Monday evening before Bangor pulled within a run at 5–4 in the sixth inning. The game was suspended by darkness and was scheduled to be completed Tuesday night at Bangor.

Hillsboro scored the first two runs of the first game in the bottom of the first inning on Tyler Crandall’s two-out, two run double to right center, but Bangor rallied to take a 4–2 lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Junior Brandon Stanek doubled to lead of the inning and Jake Stockwell walked. Both scored on Crandall’s double.

“The defense played well and the pitching was good, however, three balks, (one arguable) plated a run and put others into scoring position,” said Hillsboro head coach Bob Bothe.

The Tigers pulled within a run at 4–3 with a single run in the sixth, but missed a golden opportunity to take the lead leaving the bases loaded in the frame.

“We didn’t hit all that well in the middle of the game after building an early lead,” added Bothe. “We stranded six runners in scoring position including the sixth where the heart of the order could not plate a run with one out and the bases loaded.”

Bangor tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh to account for the final score.

Freshman Joey Helgerson started for Hillsboro and pitched 3 1/3 solid innings, allowing one run, but did not factor in the decision.

Fellow freshman Max Stockwell (0–1) took the loss after allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits and a walk.

The loss was the fifth straight for Hillsboro (2–5, 2–5 SBC) after opening the season with a pair of wins.

The Tigers’ SBC game at Royall was rained out last Thursday and will be made up Tuesday, May 14.

Saturday’s La Farge Tournament was rained out and will not be made up.

Hillsboro will begin a stretch of playing six games in six days, weather permitting.

The Tigers will host Wonewoc–Center in a single game Thursday to kick off a busy stretch. Hillsboro won the first meeting, 13–2, on April 15.

Hillsboro will then travel to Necedah on Friday for a league doubleheader and to New Lisbon for two games on Monday, before traveling to Royall on Tuesday.