The Bobcats fell to 3-2 by dropping their home opener Thursday 7-3 against Fulton. By the fortune of a Tradewater loss, however, Marion remained in a first-place tie with the Pirates. Fulton managed all of their runs against Marion starter Zach Hall (0-1), sending 4 runs home in the fifth inning. However, the Bobcats' bullpen remained strong, with Kyle Tokunaga throwing two scoreless innings to close the game. The bullpen has allowed only 3 earned runs in 14.2 innings. The Railroaders jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with runs scored on a wild pitch and double steal. After another score in the third, Rob Hogenkamp contributed a 3-run double two innings later to run the score to 6-1. Nick Duff added the last Fulton run on a single in the same inning.

Marion scored its first run on a passed ball in the fourth after blowing a bases-loaded opportunity the inning before. With runners on every station and no outs in the third, Caleb Eickhoff hit into a double play that started with a force out at the plate. Joey Xavier ended the inning with a fly to center, leaving two runners in scoring position. Despite another no-out double play to start the seventh, the Bobcats managed to chase Fulton starter Steven Dooley (1-1) with a second run. The Bobcats added their final run in the ninth on a bases loaded walk with one out. With the bags still full, the tying run came to the plate in the next two batters, but Fulton reliever Tate Glasscock was able to end the game with back-to-back strikeouts, leaving all three Marion runners stranded.