Paducah Tilghman used a four-run first inning to build an early lead on the way to a 9-3 victory over Trigg County on Friday in the semifinals of the Kentucky 2A Section 1 tournament. The Blue Tornado improved to 10-7 and handed the Wildcats a fourth loss in their last five to leave them at 6-6.
Two hit-by-pitches, a steal of home, and Gunner Massey’s two-run triple did the damage in the first for Paducah Tilghman, and Dain Lynn was dominant on the mound for the Blue Tornado. Lynn allowed a single hit and one walk with seven strikeouts over five innings to pick up his first win of the season.
Paducah Tilghman added three runs in the top of the fourth, including an RBI double by Jaylen Seay to stretch the lead to 7-0. Trigg County finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth with a run on a wild pitch before Paducah Tilghman tacked on two more on Braden Douglas’ two-run single in the top of the seventh.
Looking to rally in their final at-bat, the Wildcats put runners at the corners on an error and Jon Humphries’ single, and cut the lead to six runs on Slaton Carter’s two-run single. But that was all the Wildcats could muster as Landon Hinz got the final two outs of a two-inning relief appearance to finish off the game.
Aidon Butts took the loss for Trigg, allowing seven runs, four earned, on five hits with five strikeouts over four innings. Chase Hampton worked the final three frames, surrendering two earned runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
The Wildcats will look to get back on track on Monday when they travel to Crittenden County to try to complete a season sweep over the Rockets.
