On Saturday, the Hoptown Hoppers took advantage of three first-inning walks and an error by the visiting Fulton Railroaders to push five runs across in the opening frame and end a three-game skid with a 7-3 victory.
Peyton Armour was strong on the mound for the Hoppers, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts over seven innings to earn the win.
Hoptown won its third straight over the Railroaders to improve to 10-12, four games back of 1st-place Madisonville. The Hoppers will be on the road on Sunday to face the Henderson Flash.
John Kiebler and Grant Snider led off the game with back-to-back singles before a walk loaded the bases. Preston Rager and Estaban Sepulveda drew walks, and two runs came in on a Fulton error for an early 5-0 advantage.
Mason Cook enjoyed a big night at the plate, beginning with an RBI single in the top of the 3rd to get the Railroaders on the scoreboard.
Braden Pingel’s 4th-inning RBI double restored the Hoppers’ five-run edge, but Cook stayed hot with a two-run home run to right field in the top of the 7th to give Fulton some life.
The Hoppers added a run when Kiebler came home on a wild pitch in the 7th, and Dalton Sisson and Sam Patrick were perfect on the mound in the final two frames to nail down the win.
Sam Perkins reached safely twice, but the Hoppers were outhit 7-6. Jake Vitale joined Cook with two hits for the Railroaders, and Cook drove in three runs.
Mitt Landers took the loss for Fulton, allowing six runs, five earned, on six hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.
