The Full Count Rhythm scored in every inning but one to beat the Hoptown Hoppers 17-5 Wednesday and complete a two-game sweep.
Four full Count players recorded three hits as the Rhythm opened with three runs in the first inning. They tacked on five more runs in both the fourth and eighth innings.
Drew Robertson, Reece Holbrook, and Levi Perrell each had doubles and Trey Miller smacked a home run for Full Count.
The Hoppers scored a run in the first inning when Robert Estrada singled, stole second, and came around to score on a bad throw.
Down 12-1 in the sixth inning and with a mercy rule ending pending, the Hoppers plated three runs. Dom Oliverio hit an opposite-field home run – his second of the season — to lead off the frame and Mac Biggs blasted one over the left centerfield fence two batters later.
In the seventh inning, Luis Vergara doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Five Hopper pitchers combined to throw 250 pitches in the eight-inning game, handing out 13 walks and three hit batters.
The back-to-back losses to the first-place Rhythm saw the Hoppers drop to 8-13 and fall seven games behind Full Count in the OVL South standings. Full Count leads the all-time series with the Hoppers 9-6.
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The Hopper attendance was announced at 186 Wednesday – the fewest for a Hopper home game this season. The Hoppers find themselves going head to head with the Western Kentucky State Fair five times during the fair’s run.
In past years, an effort was made for the Hoppers to play mainly on the road during the fair’s run.
Through 12 home games, the Hoppers are averaging 260 fans which would be the lowest since the Hoppers began wooden bat play in 2012. Dubois County (1,032) and Paducah (384) lead the Ohio Valley League in attendance. Hoptown is third.
