Blackhawks continue hot streak with 5-2 win

This was one streak the Hinton Blackhawks baseball team was happy to break.

Adam Struve pitched a complete-game four-hitter and the Blackhawks defeated West Sioux 5-2 in War Eagle Conference baseball action in Hinton.

"Our pitchers did a decent job tonight and we played decent defense," Hinton coach Steve Diediker said. "If our pitchers throw strikes and we don't make any errors, we usually come out ahead."

The Blackhawks had just five hits, but they made them count as they jumped right on the Falcons as they scored one run in the first.

"We still need to hit the ball better," Diediker said. "We're still not hitting it the way we need to if we really want to be successful."

Brady Schindel opened the home half of the first inning with a walk. He stole second and came home on an RBI double by Struve.

The Blackhawks added another run in the second as Kody Reuter walked and courtesy runner Blake Hoefling stole second before Lathen Hasler's RBI single scored him.

Hinton added two more in the third as Nick Becker reached on an error. Struve followed with an RBI double and his courtesy runner - Ethan Kroll - came home on an error.

The Blackhawks got their final run in the fourth as Hasler doubled and scored on an RBI single by Becker.

"We played decent on Monday (a 2-0 loss to Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn), but the weekend wasn't the best," Diediker said. "Tonight we only had five hits, so we're still not hitting the ball the way we need to, but we found a way to score five runs."

Struve struck out six, walked two and hit a batter during his win.

He allowed single runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

"He was overpowering, but he had his curveball working, too," Diediker said. "He had pretty good command (of his fastball)."

Hinton (10-9, 8-5) travels to Akron-Westfield on Friday. The Blackhawks handed the Westerners a 1-0 nothing defeat earlier this season.