Cody Holub was a single away from an opening-day cycle as Caldwell County turned back Crittenden County 12-5 at the VFW Ballpark in Princeton.
Holub, a junior, went 3-for-4 and drove in five runs to lead the Tigers in what was the 100th meeting between the two schools on the baseball diamond.
Crittenden grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but Holub put Caldwell in front to stay with a two-run double in the bottom of the frame.
Holub tripled home another run in the second as Caldwell scored three times to stretch its lead to 5-1.
The Rockets could get only as close as 5-2 before a four-spot in the bottom of the third put Caldwell in control at 9-2. Tate VanHooser singled home two runs in the frame.
Holub slammed a two-run homer to left in the bottom of the fifth as Caldwell added three runs in the inning to go up 12-4.
Crittenden loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but could only push across one run.
Gabe East was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs for the Tigers while Logan Smiley went 2-for-2.
Bryar Riley pitched into the fifth inning to earn the win in the opener. He allowed three earned runs in 4.1 innings, surrendering five hits while striking out five and walking just one.
John Davis tossed the final 2.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, to help nail down the victory.
The Tigers have won their last six meetings against Crittenden and lead the all-time series 80-20.
Caldwell returns to action on Friday and Saturday at the Big Orange Classic at Marshall County.
