Sixth-inning runs lead to Hillsboro win over Lynchburg-Clay 

HILLSBORO — Two of the top teams from their respective conferences squared off in a non-conference game this past Thursday, where the Hillsboro Lady Indians defeated Highland County counterpart, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs 2-0. 

The game played at Hillsboro High School on May 15 saw a pitcher’s duel where for the first five innings neither team scored a run, and the only two runs came in the bottom of the sixth where Hillsboro (18-3) took the lead for good. 

Combined, the two teams had seven hits, with Hillsboro finishing with five and LCHS (14-6) totaling two. 

The pitching in the game was outstanding on both sides, with Hillsboro’s Camryn Spruell gaining the win in the circle. She pitched all seven innings, allowing no runs on two hits and two walks. Spruell ended the game with 17 strikeouts with a total of 92 pitches, 65 for strikes. 

Noel Barnhill of Lynchburg-Clay pitched a strong game too, though she was charged with the loss. Barnhill allowed no earned runs on five hits and one walk in six innings of work. Barnhill threw 74 pitches, 48 for strikes as she had five strikeouts. 

Hillsboro’s two runs in the bottom of the sixth saw them begin their half of the inning with a single hit to centerfield by Spruell. Next was an out as the umpire ruled Spruell left the base early as Chloe Roberts was walked. 

After a second out was recorded on a pop up to second base, the Lady Indians showed why they are one of the top teams in the state in Division IV, as Addie Huff reached first base on an error that occurred at third base, moving Roberts to third base and Huff ended up at second base. 

A wild sequence of events allowed both runners to score runs for the 2-0 lead. 

Addley Miller hit an infield single to second base, scoring Huff, and on a throw in the infield, Roberts also scored a run for the two-run advantage.

Spruell and the Lady Indians’ defense wrapped up the game with two strikeouts, followed by a pop-up to shortstop to end the game for a Lady Indians’ win. 

LCHS committed three errors and had two hits in the game, while HHS totaled five hits and had no errors. 

The Lady Indians saw Spruell finish 2-for-3 at the plate with a steal. Roberts went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk. Isabelle Brunck was also 1-for-3, while Miller went 1-for-3 with two RBI. 

Both of Lynchburg-Clay’s hits were from Aubrey Roberts, who was 2-for-3 with a steal. LCHS also had walks from Barnhill and Reese Ruble. 

BOX SCORE 
LCHS    000 000 0 — 0 2 3
HHS      000 002 x — 2 5 0 

On Monday, May 19 in Jackson, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs lost to the Jackson Ironladies 5-0 in non-conference play. 

LCHS totaled four hits and had two errors, while Jackson finished with eight hits and one error. 

Jackson scored one run in the bottom of the third, followed with a two-run fifth inning, and then they added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. 

Having hits for LCHS were Audrey Barry (1-for-3), Aubrey Roberts (1-for-3), Reese Ruble (1-for-3, a double) and Kami Collins (1-for-3).

Barnhill pitched five innings, where she was charged with the loss in the circle, allowing one earned run on seven hits and one walk in five innings. She collected one strikeout. Roberts pitched one inning, allowing no earned runs on one hit and no walks. 

LCHS now stands at 14-7 overall this season. 

BOX SCORE
LCHS    000 000 0 — 0 4 2 
JHS       001 022 x — 5 8 1