Runs were at a premium last night, but the Hoptown Hoppers squeezed out a 3-2 11 inning win over the Owensboro River Dawgs in game one of the Ohio Valley League Championship series.
Owensboro took a 1-0 lead on a run scoring single by Matt Jewell in the home second inning. The Hoppers tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth inning on a leadoff home run by MJ Rookard. The River Dawgs would reclaim the lead 2-1 in the bottom of that frame.
The Hoppers would tie the game in the top of the eighth inning as Cole Cummings scored on a three base throwing error on a sacrifice bunt by MJ Rookard. It would stay that way until Nick Proto homered in the 11th to give the Hoppers a 3-2 lead and eventual win. The Hoppers had six hits with Proto and Matt Keane each getting two with Rookard and Cummings adding the others.
Hassan Westbrook in relief of Brian Coffey got the win while Thomas Cessna took the loss for Owensboro. The Hoppers now 26-20 host 32-15 Owensboro in game two of the OVL Championship Series tonight at Colonel Field at 7:05 with pregame at 6:45 on News Radio 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.