Hopkinsville and University Heights Academy combined for twelve errors in the Tigers’ 9-4 8th District semifinal victory at Tiger Field on Monday night. The Tigers used a 4-run fifth inning, including an hour weather delay, to improve their record to 9-20 overall. The Blazers fail to advance in the tournament for the first time since 2015, ending their season at 9-15.
The Tigers took an early lead on a first-inning RBI single by Layne Jorgensen, before the Blazers tied it in the second when Zach Naylor singled-in Tanner Thomas. After the Tigers took advantage of an error and a passed ball to take a 3-1 lead in their half of the second, the Blazers got 1 back on an RBI double by Scribby Goode.
UHA’s Drew McGowan scored when Goode reached on an error to tie the game in the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the frame, singles on either side of consecutive errors allowed the Tigers to again take the lead. Just as Jorgensen crossed the plate after a catcher’s interference call to make it 6-3, lightning forced what would turn out to be an hour delay.
The Tigers added another run in the fifth after play resumed, but the Blazers scored on a passed ball to again trim the lead to 3. Caleb Bapp doubled to bring home Preston Chaudoin and Blake Sowell in the bottom of the sixth, and the Tigers’ Zach Caudill got the final three outs to seal the 9-4 win.
Robert Justus allowed 3 unearned runs on two hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over 5.0 innings for the win. Caudill went 1.1 innings, striking-out three and allowing two hits. Shane Hunt got two outs in the sixth while giving up a run on a hit with a strikeout and three walks.
Bapp had a hit and 3 RBI to lead the Tigers, followed by Sowell with two hits. Jorgensen and Duvall each had a hit and a run driven-in, with Justus and Landon Snyder each reaching base once.
McGowan took the loss, lasting 5.0 innings and surrendering 7 runs, 1 earned, on five hits with nine strikeouts and a walk. Luke Welch worked the sixth inning, allowing 2 runs on two hits with a couple of strikeouts. Goode had two hits and an RBI, Naylor had a hit and an RBI, and Dan Johnson and Malik Lovan each hit safely once.
The Tigers will be looking for their first district title since 2014 on Tuesday, and will make their first appearance in the championship game since 2015. Hopkinsville lost both regular season meetings with the Colonels by a combined score of 18-1.
