Pitching dominated Tuesday’s Apollo Conference doubleheader in Charleston.

The Effingham Hearts allowed just one hit in both games, but only managed a split in the twin-bill.

Charleston’s Luke Bonstetter and Aidan Archibald combined to keep the Hearts off the scoreboard in the opener, finishing with a 1-0 victory.

In the nightcap, Effingham’s Kaiden Nichols came within two outs of a complete game shutout. But his teammates provided plenty of support, as EHS gained the split with a 7-0 win.

In the first game, the host Trojans scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the fifth. Bonnstetter reached on an error, went to second on a balk and scored when Corbin Parker got his team’s only hit of the contest, an RBI single.

The Hearts had four hits and left five runners stranded in the first three innings. But over the final four innings, only one runner was left on.

Colton Webb was the tough-luck loser. He allowed just the one hit and one unearned run in his six innings of work. The lefty walked two and struck out six.

Nichols was in total control in the second game. He allowed only one hit, a two-out single in the third, while walking two and striking out nine in his 107-pitch performance. Jude Traub came in and recorded the final two outs.

The Hearts scored all the runs they needed in the first inning. Two walks and a single by Webb loaded the bases with one out. Spencer Fox forced in a run with a walk, another scored on a wild pitch and Braxton Lewis and Carter Braddy capped the four-run frame with RBI singles.

Effingham added a single tally in the second and two more in the fourth to wrap up the scoring.

The Hearts are now 13-7 overall and 5-3 in the conference. They will return home Friday to play Flora and will then travel to Taylorville on Saturday for another Apollo Conference doubleheader.