BROOKINGS – Aberdeen Central wasn’t able to record its second straight softball victory on Thursday, but the Golden Eagles did have another milestone moment.

Kylee Hoffman belted the school’s first ever home run in a 13-3 setback to Brookings in an Eastern South Dakota Conference contest.

Leading off the top of the first inning, Hoffman did not waste any time, jumping on the first pitch of the game and depositing it over the fence.

“With Hoffman leading off, I told her to swing at the first good pitch and not get deep in the count today with better pitching,” said Central coach Cassidy Neer. “She did just that and hit a home run on the first pitch of the game.”

The Eagles added another run in the first after Avery Bendewald singled and later scored on a passed ball.

The hosts answered back with three runs in the bottom of the first inning for a lead they never lost, although Central stayed within striking distance.

When Hoffman drove in another run in the top of the fourth inning with a single, the Eagles trailed just 5-3. However, the Bobcats broke the game open with a six-run fourth, and then ended the game on the 10-run rule in the fifth on a two-run double by Sydney Bebensee, the sixth double of the game for Brookings.

“The girls played tough,” Neer said. “It was 4-2 a good bulk of the game until we fell behind in the fourth inning and weren’t able to catch up in the fifth inning.”

Hoffman finished with three hits and drove in a pair to lead Central. Bendewald and Kaylee Kiesow each had two singles for the Eagles. Brookings, one of the elite Class AA teams, remained unbeaten on the season.

“Great softball was played today against a great team,” Neer said. “Brookings is a phenomenal program and we were able to hang in there for a while. Nothing but good things came of today.”

Central plays at Sioux Falls Roosevelt on Tuesday before hosting Sioux Falls Washington on Thursday.

Aberdeen Central 200 10 – 3 10 2

Brookings 311 62 – 13 10 2

Kaylee Kiesow, Kylee Hoffman (4) and Alivia Roettele, Reese Comstock (4); Kylie Moe, Kinzey Grenbler (4) and Morgan Norgaard, Keisha Cushing (4). 2B – Brookings, Sydney Bebensee (2), Kymber Buys, Grenbier, Moe, Norgaard. HR – Aberdeen Central, Hoffman.