(From Hopkinsville) The homestanding Hoptown Hoppers extended its first-place lead over Fulton tonight in Hopkinsville, using strong pitching and timely hitting to push past the visiting Railroaders 5-3.

     Hoptown (22-10) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the second inning when Nolan Fisher hit a solo home run with one out in the inning. Things got jumping in the fourth inning when the Railroaders (17-14) plated three runs when Austin Bryant led off wth a single and Angelo Burrage followed with a walk. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Billy O'Conner, and Bryant scored on a single to left by Joe Mike. The relay throw to the plate sailed high, and Burrage scampered home to give Fulton a 2-1 lead. Mike went to third on a groundout, then scored on a wild pitch to give the Railroaders a 3-1 lead.

     In the bottom half of the inning, Tony Mazzella walked, then went to third on a double by Bobby Clark. Matt McGowan singled in Mazzella, then Kaleb Brown singled in Clark to tie the game at 3-3. Hoptown took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Fernando Tanaka led off with a walk, went to second on a sac bunt by Jake Sandlin, then went to third on a groundout. Fisher got an intentional pass, then took second on defensive indifference. Mazzella then laced a single into right-center field, plating Tanaka and Fisher to cap the scoring at 5-3.

     Hoptown was led by McGowan, who went 2-for-3 with a run batted in. Sandlin and Clark each doubled for the Hoppers, while Fisher scored twice and had a home run. Mazzella had two RBIs for Hoptown.Fulton was paced by Mike, who went 2-for-4.

     Philip Menou started for Hoptown and got the win, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out six and walking three in 6-1/3 innings. Kyle Spencer came on in the seventh inning, allowing no runs on no hits and striking out four in 1-2/3 innings. Tyler Vails pitched the ninth inning and got the save, allowing no hits and striking out one in one inning.

     Starter Brock Downey got the loss for the Railroaders, allowing five runs on six hits, striking out four and walking four in 5-1/3 innings. Cory Klinger closed out the game, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out three and walking three in 2-2/3 innings.