A night after seeing a late-inning lead evaporate in a loss to Calloway County, the Hopkinsville Tigers broke a 6th-inning tie to top visiting West Creek, TN, 7-5 on Tuesday, putting the brakes on a six-game skid.
West Creek pushed a couple of runs across in the top of the 2nd, and the Tigers were hitless through the first three frames before breaking through in the 4th. Zach Moss’ RBI triple cut the lead in half, and Gavin Powell followed with an RBI double to tie the game.
Andrew Mayes got the start on the mound for the Tigers, and he pitched into the 5th before exiting after a lead-off walk. He allowed two unearned runs on only two hits with seven walks and a pair of strikeouts.
After the Coyotes regained the lead on a hit by pitch with the bases loaded, Hopkinsville used an error and a wild pitch to post a pair of runs in the 5th. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gavin Mitchell was hit by a pitch to give the Tigers a 5-3 edge.
However, West Creek pulled even once again in the top of the 6th on Nathan Lucas’ two-run rocket over the right field fence. But the Tigers wouldn’t be denied, nudging back in front after JJ Thompson led off the bottom of the frame with a triple and came home on a wild pitch.
Moss capped his two-hit, two-RBI night with a run-scoring double, and the Tigers turned to Thompson to nail down the win on the mound in the 7th. Thompson only needed 11 pitches to seal the victory, striking out the side to pick up a save.
Dylan Sweeney earned the win for Hoptown, pitching the 5th and 6th and allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Braden Canaan took the loss as West Creek fell to 5-6, giving up five runs, four earned, on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Up next for Hopkinsville is a trip to Marshall County on Thursday before opening 8th-District play with a visit from Christian County on Friday. The Colonels have won the last three in the series, including a 7-3 victory in last season’s district championship.
