Hillsdale’s Sydney Long was on her game from the start as she struck out the first two batters in the opening inning on her way to a 16-strikeout performance.

“None of us really knew what to expect this year. If you asked us, we would’ve answered that we didn’t know what we would be,” Bristol shortstop Kendyl Switzer said. “With no seniors, we didn’t have much to expect. We did good the whole season and every game built our confidence.”

Hillsdale (24-2) came alive on offense in the bottom half of the second inning, getting Long more than enough runs.

Keirah Smetzer smacked a solo home run, Sophie Goon drove home a run on a groundout and Kaylee Cline added two RBIs on a single to give the Falcons a 4-0 lead.

Tribune Chronicle / Marc Weems Bristol pitcher Alayna Sines throws a pitch Thursday in the Panthers’ Division IV regional semifinal loss to Jeromesville Hillsdale at Akron Firestone Stadium.

“My hat’s off to Hillsdale. They have a great team and a great pitcher. We put our best effort forward. It was actually one of our best defensive games of the year,” Bristol coach Alisha Kugler said. “We just couldn’t get the bat on the ball until the last inning. You have to score runs to win a game.”

Hillsdale struck again in the fourth inning when Goon ripped a double off the left-center wall to score Josie Rowland. Hillsdale tacked on the final run in the sixth inning to secure the win as Long went the distance.

Bristol broke up a no-hitter on a Alayna Sines double in the seventh.

“It feels good that we aren’t losing anybody and that we will have another year to go,” Kayla Switzer said.

With four juniors and no seniors, the Panthers (18-6) will return a lot of experience from this year’s team.

“This is good motivation because next year is our last year. We don’t want this feeling again next year,” Kendyl Switzer said. “We want to go all the way next year.”

Another junior, Emily Bush, believes that with all the girls returning, plus the newly-added freshmen next year, Bristol will be stronger than ever next year.

“I think that they are sad that the season is over. We put such a great year together. I want them to be proud of what they did,” Kugler said.