The Hoptown Hoppers used a five-run fifth inning to take the lead and held on for a 10-9 win over the Paducah Chiefs to pick up their first win of the 2021 OVL baseball season Saturday.
Paducah led 7-4 as the Hoppers came to bat in the fifth. Landon Choboy led off with a single and came around to score on a Zayd Brannigan single. After Tanner Holliman was hit by a pitch, Joe Sassi drew a bases-loaded walk to get the Hoppers to within 7-6.
Patrick Walker tied the game with an RBI groundout. The Hoppers added two more runs on another bases-loaded walk and a groundout.
Sassi drew his second bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning to put the Hoppers up 10-7.
Paducah added single runs in the seventh and eighth innings to make the score 10-9.
Chase Gruno came in the ninth inning to nail down his first save as a Hopper.
Jackson Lyons struck out six in four innings of work as the Hoppers’ starter. Tyler McLaren got the win with four innings of relief. He struck out four in four innings and allowed two earned runs.
Holliman and Nico Montes each had two hits and two RBIs for the Hoppers, who had 11 hits and left 10 runners on base. B.J. Banyon had a triple and two RBIs.
Four different Chiefs had two hits as part of the 13-hit attack.
The Hoppers improved to 19-9 all-time against the Chiefs and have won five straight at home against Paducah.
The Hoppers will visit Fulton Sunday.
