Hits were hard to come by on Tuesday in Hopkins County Central’s season opener, with the Storm held to a single base hit in a 15-0 loss to hosts McLean County.
McLean County used a nine-run first to take control before finishing things off with a pair of runs in the fourth to open the season with a win for the fourth straight year.
Three RBI singles and a pair of hit batters with the bases loaded did the early damage for the Cougars. Three more run-scoring singles led to four runs in the second, and the game ended on a wild pitch that brought in the final run in the bottom of the fourth.
Layden Bozarth and Hayden Hudson each had two hits and two RBI for the Cougars, and Houston Whitaker and Brooks Lynam finished with a hit and two runs driven in.
Ayden Rice earned the win on the mound, allowing a single hit with a walk and four strikeouts over two frames. Jaelin Groves worked one and two-thirds in relief, striking out three with a walk.
Gaige Brasher took the loss for the Storm, surrendering nine unearned runs on three hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts. Sawyer Allen’s single was Hopkins Central’s lone hit.
Up next for the Storm is a visit from Russellville on Thursday.
