Lehnhoff's one-hitter stops Hinton in WEC contest

(Sentinel photo by Jesse Geleynse) Hinton's Justin Held attempts to catch a pickoff throw from Tyler Stuerman during Hinton's 2-0 loss to MMC on Monday. [Click to enlarge]

Hinton pitcher Tyler Stuerman found himself on the wrong end of a pitchers' duel on Monday night as the Blackhawks lost 2-0 to visiting Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn in War Eagle Conference baseball action.

Eagles ace lefthander Jacob Lehnhoff allowed just one hit and fanned 11 Blackhawks for War Eagle Conference-leading MMC (17-1, 13-0).

Hinton had two runners on base in the first inning, but stranded both.

(Sentinel photo by Jesse Geleynse) Tyler Stuerman delivers a pitch during Hinton's 2-0 loss to MMC. [Click to enlarge]

"We had some chances in the first with runners on second and third, but we couldn't score," Hinton coach Steve Diediker said. "After that, we didn't have a lot of chances."

The Blackhawks advanced a runner to second in the sixth inning, but also stranded that runner as Lehnhoff overpowered the young Hinton hitters with his fastball and an array of off-speed pitches consistently thrown for strikes.

Stuerman nearly matched the MMC senior as he struck out 10 and allowed just one earned run on two hits in the complete-game loss.

The Eagles struck in the first inning as Lehnhoff singled to open the contest, advanced to second on a bunt, stole third and scored on an RBI groundout from Jordan Peterson.

MMC completed the scoring in the second inning. Stuerman hit Jerad Letsche, who later scored on an error.

"It was a pretty quick game," Diediker said.

Brady Schindel had a third-inning single for the Blackhawks' only hit.

Hinton (9-9, 7-5) has now lost three games in a row. The Blackhawks return to WEC action at home against West Sioux on Wednesday.