(From Hopkinsville)  Hoptown (12-6) maintained its hold on first place with a 5-3 home win over visiting Marion on Sunday.

     Marion (4-14) got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning when Brandon Lawing led off and reached on an error, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt, scoring on a double by Brooks Balisterri. Joe Tourville drew a walk, went to second when Cody Brown walked, went to third when Paul Angel walked and scored when Tyler Odom walked, giving the Bobcats a 2-0 lead.

     The Hoppers responded in the bottom half of the inning when Brandon Boggetto popped a one-out solo home run to trim Marion's lead to 2-1.

Hoptown tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Mitch Huckabay drew a one-out walk, took second on a balk, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to knot the game at 2-2.

     Hoptown took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when Brandon Powell led off with a walk, went to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Zac Carter. Carter went to second on a single by Derek Finch and scored on a throwing error to give the Hoppers a 4-2 lead.

     Marion got back a run when Wes Evers hit a one-out single, stole second, went to third when a Brandon Lawing walk loaded the bases and scored on a wild pitch to cut the Hoptown lead to 4-3.

     The Hoppers tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth when Derek Ferch belted a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice bunt to put Hoptown ahead 5-3.

Hoptown was led at the plate by Boggetto, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored and a run batted in. Derek Ferch also had two hits and a triple.

Marion was paced by Wes Evers, who went 3-for-5. Brooks Balisterri had a double for the Bobcats.

     Trevor Blocker (1-1) got the win for the Hoppers in relief, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out two and walking two in 2 1/3 innings. Reese Johnson started for Hoptown, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits, striking out four and walking seven in 4 2/3 innings. Brantley Bray came on in the eighth inning, walking one in one-third of an inning before leaving because of an injury. Ryne Long got his third save, allowing no hits and striking out three in 1 2/3 innings.

     Cody Brown (0-1) started and took the loss for the bobcats, allowing four runs (three earned) on three hits, striking out four and walking two in 3 1/3 innings. Drew Shoulders came on in the fourth inning, allowing one run on one hit, striking out two and walking one in two innings. Wes Evers entered in the sixth, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out one in 1 2/3 innings, and Tyler Simmons pitched the ninth inning, walking one.