New Lisbon handed Hillsboro a pair of losses in a Scenic Bluffs softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon at Hillsboro High School.

The Rockets prevailed 9–7 in the opener, a game that started out as a pitcher’s duel and became a sluggfest.

Walks and untimely errors allowed New Lisbon to build a 6–1 lead through six and a half innings.
Hillsboro scored four in the bottom of the sixth to make it a one-run game, but the Rockets tallied three unearned runs in the seventh inning as a result of two crucial errors.

The Tigers, who had seven of their 10 hits in the final two innings, had one last comeback plated a pair of runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning, but the rally died with the tying run on second when the final out was made on a deep fly ball to center field.

Lexi Mathis suffered the loss, allowing nine runs, five earned, on six hits and 11 walks.

Seven of New Lisbon’s nine runs were scored by players that walked to get on base.

Hillsboro sophomore Brittany Borchardt went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored in the loss.
Elsie Griffin went 2-for-4 for the Tigers.

In game two the Rockets ripped 10 hits and cruised to an easy 8–3 win.

New Lisbon put together three consecutive hits in the third to score a pair of runs and again in the fifth inning to score three more.

A walk, two hits and an error in the fourth also led to three more runs and an 8–2 New Lisbon lead.

Abbey Washetas earned her second win of the day, allowing hree runs, on six hits in the complete game victory.

“New Lisbon only made one error and Washetas issued only one walk. Other than that we had to earn everything we got,” said Hillsboro head coach Mike Burch. “We had problems putting hits together. The six hits we had were scattered.”

Friday afternoon Hillsboro snapped a four-game losing streak with a 3–2 eight-inning victory against visiting Wonewoc–Center.

Senior catcher Morgen Rynes singled to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.

After a failed bunt attempt, Rynes reached second on a wild pitch.

Then sophomore Mackenzie Sullivan hit a ground ball in the hole between short and third and the play at third base on Rynes was late.

Sophomore first baseman Morgan Huntley then hit the first pitch she saw to deep right field for a game-winning sacrifice fly as Rynes tagged and scored the winning run.

Borchardt started the game in the pitcher’s circle for Hillsboro and threw six strong innings allowing just two hits and three walks and striking out 4. She got a little tired in the seventh and ran into control problems walking three and also hit two batters which allowed Wonewoc–Center to tie the game.

Mathis (2–6) came on in the eighth and pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win.

“It was nice to win one of these close games for a change,” said Burch. “What can I say about Brittany, she was fantastic in the pitcher’s circle. Lexi came in and didn’t allow anything in the eighth, which was also nice to see.”

Hillsboro took a 2–0 lead in the bottom of the third when senior Macy Mislivecek drove in a pair of runs with a towering two-out pop fly to shallow right field.

Three confused Wonewoc-Center defenders let the way fall in safely as the Tigers plated two runs.

Monday’s doubleheader at Bangor was rained out and rescheduled to be played on Tuesday. The Tigers will return to action with a home game against Necedah before traveling to Ithaca on Saturday. Hillsboro will then host Cashton on Monday.