BANGOR — The Hillsboro softball season ended Thursday afternoon with a 19–3 loss at Bangor in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal.

The host and third-seeded Cardinals belted out 19 hits in just four innings to run away with a shockingly easy win.

Hillsboro had just swept Bangor, 13–12 and 10–9, on May 13. But this time around it was a different story.

The Cardinals (10–5) scored nine runs in the bottom of the first then tacked on seven more in the third against Hillsboro starter Brittany Borchardt.

“I told the pitchers at the beginning of the year that if they threw strikes and didn’t walk any batters, we would win games. I guess I didn’t plan on the opposition connecting on 19 hits,” said Hillsboro first-year head coach Mike Burch. “I have to give Brittany credit, she did what I asked, she didn’t walk anybody. I know that Bangor probably can’t repeat that performance again, but if they do, nobody around here is going to beat them.”

Bangor used eight hits, one walk and one Hillsboro error to plate nine runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Seven more hits and two more Hillsboro errors added sevens runs in the third and put the game well out of reach.

Aspen Zimmer went 4-for-4, Stephanie Clements went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs, and Megan

Horstman went 3-for-4 with a double and a triple for the winners.

Mackenzie Sullivan, Sierra Hanke, Destiny Shore, Morgan Huntley and Elsie Griffin each went 1-for-2 in the loss for the Tigers.

Bangor advanced to face second-seeded New Lisbon (8–7) in a regional semifinal game on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Hillsboro finished its first year under Burch’s direction 5–14 overall.

“I want to thank all the senior girls for their hard work and dedication. They deserved to have a much better season than what their 5–13 record shows,” added Burch.

Seniors Kelsey Skala, Macy Mislivecek, Morgen Rynes, Griffin, Riley Fisher and Haili Yoakum-Kehoe suited up for the final time for Hillsboro on Thursday.

Last Wednesday Hillsboro closed out the regular season with a 7–3 loss to Royall.

None of Hillsboro’s seniors played in the game due to their class trip.

Borchardt pitched three scoreless innings and Hillsboro jumped out to a 3–0 lead through three innings, but the Panthers rallied to scored seven runs off reliever Lexi Mathis, including five in the sixth inning.

Burch opted to pull Borchardt after three innings to rest her for Thursday’s playoff opener.