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JACKSON — Over the past three years, Hillsboro has showcased that all it has to do is grace the scoreboard … Camryn Spruell will do the rest.
The Ball State University commit turned in another dazzling performance in the circle on Monday, going the distance and striking out 19 batters.
All in a day’s work.
“It all comes down to trusting my defense. It allows me to remain as cool as possible in the circle and just play my game,” Spruell said. “A lot of it also has to do with hitting your spots as well as seeing where they’re missing and keeping that consistency.”
CREDIT: Seth Fain/Fain Photography
While Spruell dealt, she got some much-needed help late in the game from Chloe Roberts. The Indians’ sophomore third baseman drove in three of the Indians’ last four runs, lifting them to a 7-3 victory over Jackson in FAC play on Monday.
“We got seven today, but it very well could be that Jackson gets seven on us tomorrow,” Hillsboro coach Gary Breeden said. “Anything can happen in softball and Jackson is a really talented team. They made a lot of really nice plays, Serenity [Taylor] is a really good pitcher. They brought it and deserve credit for how tough they played.”
Taylor pitched a solid game herself, striking out eight batters on the evening. But early on, Jackson’s defense had a couple of mistakes that cost the team dearly.
In the top of the second inning, a fielding error paved the way for Roberts to score for a 1-0 Hillsboro lead. Later in the inning, with two runners on, Halle Reveal ripped a two-run single into right field that extended the lead to 3-0.
Yet, Jackson had an answer in a huge way in the bottom of the third.
Lillie Eberts stepped up with a runner on second and belted a two-run bomb over the centerfield fence, cutting the lead to 3-2.
And the Ironladies weren’t finished yet.
With a runner on first and two outs, K.J. Worsham ripped an RBI double into deep right field to tie the game at 3-3.
“We knew this game was going to be a dogfight and a complete seven inning game,” Breeden said. “We’ll get our punches in and Jackson will get theirs in as well. We’ve only had a handful of games that were decided by four runs or less this season, and this was a battle that went to the very end.”
Although Jackson had all momentum, and both teams went 1-2-3 in the fourth, Hillsboro was about to take back control.
With two runners on in the fifth, Spruell smoked an RBI single down the right field line to put the Indians back on top. Roberts then registered a sacrifice fly, plating another run to extend the lead to 5-3.
Jackson had a golden chance to answer in the bottom of the sixth. But with runners on second and third and just one out, the opportunity was squandered as a runner was caught stealing home. Spruell then registered her 16th strikeout to end the threat.
With a runner on second and two outs in the seventh, Roberts came to the dish looking to purchase insurance. She worked the count, and on a 3-2 offering, swung and blasted a two-run shot over the center field fence that ultimately put the game on ice — securing the Indians’ 10th straight win.
“I knew that she was going to throw me outside, which is my sweet spot,” Roberts said. “I don’t really think too much when I’m batting, I’m just seeing the ball and hitting it. We’re all really close as a team and we all do a great job of picking someone up if they’re down or struggling. There’s a lot of really good leaders on the team, so that definitely helps a lot.”
Roberts finished the night 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs, while Reveal was 1-for-3 with two RBIs. In addition to her 19 strikeouts, Spruell also went 1-for-4 with an RBI.
For Jackson, Eberts finished 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, and Worsham was 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
CREDIT: Seth Fain/Fain Photography
TUESDAY: Hillsboro 8, Jackson 2
After Monday’s win, the Indians (12-1, 5-0 FAC) broke out their brooms on Tuesday with an 8-2 victory over the Ironladies (7-3, 2-2 FAC) — sweeping the season’s series and taking a stranglehold on the FAC title lead.
Spruell was again phenomenal in the circle, tossing all seven innings while allowing two earned runs on four hits and whiffing 12. She was also dominant offensively, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.
Alongside Spruell was Reveal, who finished 1-for-4 with a triple, a run and an RBI, as well as Madison Dearmon, who went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run and an RBI. Mylea Fridley also chipped in with a 1-for-2 effort and scored twice.
Maddie Wright led Jackson’s offensive attack, going 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI while Worsham finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Hillsboro is back in action on Wednesday, hosting Washington in conference play, while the Ironladies travel to South Webster on Friday.
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