(From Fulton)  The Railroaders picked up a half game in the standing winning over the Pirates 8-4 on Monday. Fulton is now 3 1/2 games behind first place Hoptown and 3 games ahead of third place Madisonville.

     Both teams remained scoreless through 4 1/2 innings until the Railroaders broke out in the bottom of the 5th with five runs on four hits and one Pirate error.  A Matt Skrzpiec 2 RBI double and a Ramon Valdez 2 run homer highlighted the half inning of play.

     The Pirates answer in the top of the 6th inning with a Ty Broady 3 RBI homerun to make the score 5-3 still in Fulton's favor.

     The Railroaders regained their five run lead in the 7th inning.  A RBI single by Michael Diaz, sacrifice fly by Matt Skrzpiec and a RBI double by Taylor Douglas gave Fulton an 8-3 edge.

     Madisonville got their final run in the 9th inning from a solo homerun by Alfredo Bohorquez, but it was too little to late..

     Fulton's starter Brandon Diaz earned the win pitching 5 2/3 innings. Diaz pitched perfect ball through 5 innings, retiring the sides until the top of 6th, giving up three hits and the 3 RBI homer.  He struck out 7 and walked 3 batters. Jake Shadix was called in for relief and finished the final 3 1/3 innings for a Save.  Shadix gave up 3 hits, one earned run, walked no one and had 3 strikeouts. 

     Mason Roof takes the loss for Tradewater throwing for 6 innings allowing 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), one walk and strikeouts 4 at the plate. Taylor Burr completed the final 2 innings and tagged for 5 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks with no strikeouts.  

     The two teams meet again on Wednesday in Fulton.