Royals win conference opener

The REPORTER

Hamilton Southeastern won a tough Hoosier Crossroads Conference opener on Thursday, beating Brownsburg 9-7 in an away game.

The Bulldogs got on the board first, scoring four runs in the third inning. The Royals answered that and more in the top of the fourth inning, scoring six runs for a 6-4 lead.

Cy Cole led off the inning with a base hit, then was brought home by Alex Shepherd’s center field double. Colin Kendrick bunted Shepherd in to score, then Trey McManama tied the game with a double, sending home Chase Bradle and Kendrick.

Parker O’Steen hit the go-ahead RBI, with a right field single that scored McManama. Southeastern loaded the bases, then added another run when Shepherd drew a walk to send in Clark Bucher.

Jackson Bixler singled in McManama for a fifth-inning run, giving HSE a 7-4 lead. Brownsburg scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the Royals’ lead to 7-6.

Southeastern added two more runs in the seventh inning. Bixler led off with a double and stole third base, then scored on Bucher’s sacrifice fly. Bradle batted in Cole to complete the HSE scoring. The Bulldogs got one run in the seventh inning, but Shepherd threw to Bixler to catch a Brownsburg runner stealing for the third out.

Shepherd was 3-for-3, including two doubles. Bucher hit a double. Dylan Cope pitched three innings for the win, striking out four.

The Royals are 5-1 overall and host Brownsburg at 6 p.m. tonight to finish the HCC series.