The Hopkinsville Tigers scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and rallied for a 6-2 District 8 baseball win over visiting Christian County Thursday night.
Chase Fort went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs to lead the Tigers. Jayden Kellum also had three hits and drove in a pair runs for Hoptown.
Christian County (10-10) got on the board first on a two-run single by Eddie Davis in the top of the third inning. Davis’ single drove in courtesy runner Coalton Ingram and Sebastian Dazey.
The Tigers (10-7) got a run back in the bottom of the third on a RBI infield single by Kellum to score Fort and make it 2-1.
Hoptown starter Andrew Mayes stymied the Colonels until the sixth inning. Christian County loaded the bases with two outs and Mayes was replaced by Gavin Powell, who got Dazey to fly out to right field and end the threat.
The Tigers then sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning and chased Colonels’ starter Aiden Lewis. Deuce Embrey started the rally with a leadoff single and Mayes moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lewis hit Griffen Meacham and Layton Lindsey singled to load the bases.
Lewis walked Dylan Sweeney to knot the game at 2-2 and Christian County Coach Cole Isom replaced Lewis with Dazey. Fort greeted Dazey with a two-run single and the Tigers led 4-2.
Gavin Powell laid down a bunt to score Sweeney and make the score 5-2. After Gavin Mitchell walked, Kellum slapped his second RBI hit of the night and the Tigers led 6-2.
Powell shut down the Colonels in the top of the seventh and ended the game.
The win improves Hopkinsville to 4-1 in the district and moved the Tigers into a first-place tie with the Colonels in the league standings. University Heights Academy is a half-game back at 3-1.
Christian County was led by Aiden Lewis with a single and double. Eddie Davis had a two-run single for the Colonels.
Powell picked up the pitching win in relief and Lewis suffered the loss.
Hoptown goes to UHA on Monday night for a 6 p.m. game. Airtime is 5:45 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm.
Christian County returns to action Saturday at No. 18 Bowling Green at 1 p.m.
Score by Innings:
Christian County 002 000 0 – 2 7 0
Hopkinsville 001 005 x – 6 10 1
WP – Powell
LP – A. Lewis
Leading Hitters: CCHS – A. Lewis (2B, 1B), Dazey (1B), Montes (1B), Boehman (1B), Davis (1B, 2 RBI), J. Lewis (1B); HHS – Fort (3 1B, 2 RBI), Powell (2B, 1B), Kellum (3 1B, 2 RBI), Embrey (1B), Lindsey (1B).
Photos by Peyton Biaquis