Fulton scored three runs over the final three innings to score a 7-5 come-from-behind win over the Hoptown Hoppers Sunday at Tiger Field. The loss was Hoptown’s sixth in its last seven games and dropped them to a season-high three games below .500.
Wesley Mann smacked a two-run homer in the seventh inning to give the Railroaders a 6-5 lead. The dinger was Mann’s second of the game and fourth of the season.
Fulton added an insurance run in the eighth when Jacob Cekander doubled and scored ahead of a single by Ryan Lee.
Fulton scored twice in the first inning with three Hoptown errors helping their cause. It marked Hoptown’s sixth game with three or more errors this season.
After the shaky start, Zach Duenas gave the Hoppers a much-needed strong start with five innings of five-hit ball. Only two of the five runs he allowed were earned as he lowered his season ERA to 5.90.
Duenas and Chase Harlan combined to strike out 11 Railroaders – the 12th time this season with double-digit strikeouts.
The Hoppers scored single runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to tie the game at 3-3.
Jacob Dupps doubled to lead off the second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a Connor Cornwell ground out.
Luis Vergara cracked his third home run of the year to right field to get the Hoppers to within 3-2.
Drew Donaldson’s squeeze bunt in the fourth inning to score Anthony Zarlingo to tie the game.
Hoptown took its first lead of the night in the sixth inning. Joshua Rodriguez singled and scored on a Donaldson double to right. Donaldson would score on a wild pitch to put the Hoppers ahead 5-4.
The Hoppers outhit Fulton 12-11 – the sixth time the Hoppers have outhit their opponents in a loss.
Rodriguez, Dupps, Zarlingo, Vergara, and Ronald Brown each had a pair of hits for the Hoppers.
Mann’s three-hit, three-RBI night paced Fulton, who beat the Hoppers for the fourth time in five meetings this year.
Fulton improved to 10-9 and remains 3.5 games behind Franklin in third place in the OVL South standings. Hoptown is 9-12 and 5.5 games back.
The Hoppers will make its first trip to Louisville Monday to play the Jockeys before returning home to play Madisonville Tuesday at Tiger Field.
