By John Rittenhouse
The Hills Thunder were backed against a wall during the second round of the Gopher League Playoffs Wednesday night in Pipestone.
After dropping their playoff opener to Wilmont in Luverne Tuesday, Hills needed to beat second-seeded Hadley in last nightÕs second round to keep its season alive.
A win over Hadley would send the 2-15 Thunder into Sunday's round of play. A loss ends their season.
Hills came up on the short end of a 6-1 tally during TuesdayÕs playoff opener against Wilmont in Luverne.
Fifth-seeded Wilmont scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and never lost the lead to the sixth-ranked Thunder.
Hills did plate a run in the top of the fifth to trim Wilmont's cushion to a pair of counters (3-1), but Wilmont scored three runs in its final two at bats to prevail by five.
Wilmont scored once in the seventh to make it a 4-1 game before capping the scoring with a two-run eighth inning.
Hills' lone run was of the unearned variety in the top of the fifth.
Chad Rauk reached base on an error before scoring on Matt FunkeÕs run-scoring double.
Rauk pitched all eight innings to take the loss for the Thunder. He walked six batters and struck out five.
Cade Lang led Hills at the plate by going two-for-four.
Funke and Chris Putnam went one-for-four and one-for-three respectively. Both of their hits were doubles.