ONTARIO — A 3–0 first-inning lead wasn’t enough for a fourth straight win.
Instead, host Brookwood scored the game’s final five runs, including three in the bottom of the sixth inning, to rally for a 5–3 victory over Hillsboro last Thursday afternoon snapping the Tigers’ three-game winning streak.
Hillsboro (3–1, 3–1 SBC) scored three runs off Brookwood starter Cory Ottom, but Jack Hansen relieved Ottom in the third inning and was wild but effective while holding the Tigers hitless and without a run for the final five innings.
Hansen earned the win in relief striking out six while walking seven in five innings of work.
“While we didn’t get any more hits, we had our chances,” explained Hillsboro head coach Ryan Budnik. “Hansen came in and walked seven and Brookwood committed four errors. We stranded 12 runners including leaving the bases loaded three times.”
Hillsboro managed to cross the plate three times in the first before struggling to come through with a clutch hit the rest of the night.
Senior catcher Matt Stekel walked and stole second base, then junior Tommy Crandall reached on an error.
Junior first baseman Hunter Stanek reached on another Brookwood error and Stekel scored.
Stanek stole second to put runners at second and third, and he and Crandall scored on freshman James Anderson’s two-run single.
Brookwood (2–1, 2–1) got a run back in the bottom of the first against Crandall as Ottom singled and later scored on Hansen’s RBI double.
Crandall was knocked out of the game with an injury in the third inning. He allowed just one run on hit in two innings while striking out three.
Hillsboro also lost Joey Helgerson to injury in the bottom of the fifth inning. He allowed just one hit in 21/3 innings before leaving the game.
Justin Martin doubled off Ethan Thorson and scored on Kolin Muehienkamp’s RBI single to make it 3–2.
Matt Hansen walked to lead off the Brookwood sixth. Ottom singled and Jack Hansen delivered a two-run single to give the Falcons a 4–3 lead.
Hansen advanced on a passed ball and scored on Jaden Havlik’s single.
Thorson (0–1) took the loss for Hillsboro, allowing four runs on five hits and a walk in 22/3 innings. He struck out four.
Monday’s Scenic Bluffs Conference game with Wonewoc–Center was postponed due to cold temperatures and will be made up Tuesday, May 5.
Budnik’s Tigers will return to action today at Royall. Hillsboro will then play New Lisbon at the Woodside Sports Complex in Mauston on Monday.
