Despite a four-run first inning on Wednesday night in Paducah, the Hoptown Hoppers fell 8-6 to the host Chiefs to close the curtain on the OVL regular season.
The Hoppers finish third in the South division at 21-22 and will open postseason play at the Fulton Railroaders on Friday.
An RBI single by Cam Thompson put the Hoppers up 2-0 in the first before Joe Sassi doubled the advantage with a two-run triple.
The Chiefs pulled in front with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, including a go-ahead RBI single by Brant Brown, to chase Hopper starter Garrett Sagro after six runs, five earned, on five hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts.
Kurt Paldino singled in a run in the fifth to get the Hoppers within one, but Brown came through again for the Chiefs with an RBI double in the sixth.
Hoptown put runners on first and second with one out in the top of the ninth and Noah Brown delivered a run-scoring single, but with the tying runs at the corners a fly-out and a strikeout ended the game.
Trent Hyde worked six innings to earn the win for the Chiefs, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.
Arlon Butts had a hit and a pair of RBI for the Hoppers and Jojo Cruz hit safely twice.
