Hillsdale defeats Piketon 6-2 at Div. III state softball semifinal; plays in championship game 7 p.m. Saturday

Hillsdale had several clutch hits and took advantage of a shaky Piketon defense as the Falcons defeated the Red Streaks 6-2 in the Division III state softball semifinal at Firestone Stadium. 

In the first inning, Kelsey Dropsey singled and scored on triple by Rashel Louis for 1-0 lead in bottom of the first inning.

in third, Dropsey bunts and comes around to score on two errors on the same play for 2-0 lead. The other two runs came on sacrifice fly by Rhannon Eick and RBI single by Taylor Petush.

A bases-loaded walk to Aryn Harris of the Red Streaks (27-2) in the  top of fifth to cut the Hillsdale lead to 4-1.

Hillsdale came right back in the bottom of the fifth on an  RBI triple by  Louis scores Jen Moore, who singled to make it 5-1 and Louis scored on a bloop single to right between the second baseman and right fielder by Katlyn Simpson for a 6-1 lead.

Senior Adrienne Young gave up five hits and was the winner for Hillsdale.

The Falcons are going for their sixth state championship, first since 2000, which would tie them for third all-time with Archbishop Hoban behind Tallmadge which has seven titles and Springfield with nine.

Hillsdale has won the Wayne Count League 20 of the past 21 years and is making its 13th appearance at the state tournament, second most behind Tallmadge, which has done it 14  times.

The Falcons (28-5)  plays the winner of the 8 p.m. semifinal between Archbold (26-4) and West Liberty-Salem (26-3)  7 p.m. Saturday night.