Trailing 2-1 going into the bottom of the ninth inning. the Hoptown Hoppers used a walk, a single, a fielding error and a walk-off bunt single to take a 3-2 decision against the visiting Owensboro Oilers.

     Collin Massanelli led off the inning for Hoptown (20-10) with a walk, but was thrown out in what appeared to be a failed hit-and-run attempt. Seth Bancroft then drew a walk and pinch-runner Kaleb Brown stole second. Tony Mazzella then rapped a single, moving Brown to third. Pinch-runner Fernando Tanaka then took second on defensive indifference.

     Matt McGowan hit a shot to third base, but Oilers third baseman Brenden Hardin had trouble fielding the ball, aiming to throw home, then tried to throw to first base, but McGowan beat out the throw, scoring Brown to tie the game at 2-2 and moving Tanaka to third.

     Rob Friedlin bunted his first pitch back to the mound on a squeeze play, and Tanaka scored the game-winning run before Owensboro pitcher Tim Johnson could field the ball.

     Owensboro (11-22) took a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning when Hardin drew a one-out walk, then Tyler Tichnor was hit by a pitch. Taylor Mathews slapped a sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first went wide, allowing Hardin to score and moving Tichnor to third. Tichnor scored on a double-steal to give the Oilers the 2-0 lead.

      The Hoppers plated their first run in the eighth inning when Brett Pirtle was hit by a pitch, took second on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on a two-out single by Jake Sandlin to cut the Owensboro lead to 2-1.

      Kyle Barbee got the win in relief, allowing no hits, striking out one and walking one in one inning of work. Will Hammock started for the Hoppers, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, striking out six and walking two in eight innings.

     Johnson took the loss in relief, allowing two unearned runs on two hits, walking two in two-thirds of an inning. Jay Hachmeister started for the Oilers, allowing one unearned run on five hits, striking out three and walking one in 7-2/3 innings.

     Hoptown was led by Brad Sevenish, who went 2-for-4 with a double, and Sandlin, who went 2-for-4 with a run batted in. Tichenor, Tyler Grogg, Christian McHatton and Matt Cissell each had singles for the Oilers.