The Hoptown Hoppers used a big sixth inning to break open a close game and then roll on to a 12-2 win over the Franklin Duelers Sunday night at South Warren High School in Bowling Green. The win capped off a 2-2 week for the Hoppers, a week in which the Hoppers scored at least 10 runs in both of the games they won.
The Hoppers took the early lead in the game when Fred Fernandez led off the top of the second with a homer to left field. Hoptown extended the lead in the top of the third when Drew Donaldson connected for an RBI single and then Fernandez reached on an error, allowing a second run to score in the inning.
The Duelers trimmed the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Hoppers then delivered the knockout blow in the top of the sixth, plating six runs to blow the lead out to 9-1. The big shot in the inning came off the bat of Fred Fernandez, who continued his hot night by drilling a three-run double to left field. Hoptown then added two more runs on a walk and a sac fly in the top of the seventh to run the lead out to 11-1.
Franklin would cut a run off the lead in the bottom of the seventh to make it 11-2.
Drew Donaldson would drive in another run with a single in the top of the ninth to cap off the scoring for the Hoppers.
Donaldson and Fernandez had huge nights for Hoptown. Donaldson was 2-6 with 4 RBIs. Fernandez ended the game 2-4 with a home run, a double, 4 RBIs, and a run scored. Leadoff man Ren Tachioka went 1-3 with 2 RBIs, two runs scored, and three walks.
Eight different Hoppers had at least one of Hoptown’s 12 hits in the contest.
Marcus Goodpaster picked up the win on the mound for Hoptown. He went seven innings, allowing two runs, only one of them earned, on five hits, striking out six while walking four.
Aaron Moss pitched the final two innings in relief, giving up no runs on two hits, striking out one while walking none.
