(From Hopkinsville) The Fulton Railroaders battled in the third and deciding game of the Ohio Valley League championship series, winning the final game 6-5 in Hopkinsville. Fulton won both of its championship series games on the road.

     Fulton also won the 2011 OVL tournament championship and the 2008 regular-season title of the OVL's predecessor, the KIT League.

     Fulton got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the first inning when Michael Diaz reached on a fielder's error and Matt Skrzypiec brought him in with a two-run blast over the left-field fence. Ramon Valdez made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot over the right-field fence to give the Railroaders an early 3-0 lead.

     Hoptown got back two of those runs in the bottom half of the inning when Trevor Lowe led off with a double, went to third on a flyout and scored on a single by Brandon Powell. Powell went to second on a single by Brad Sevenish, went to third on a walk by Seth Larue and scored on a single by Derek Ferch to trim the Fulton lead to 3-2. Fulton halted a potential threat with an inning-ending double play with a flyout to left and the throw to home nailing Sevenish at the plate.

     Fulton scored again in the top of the third inning when Michael Diaz led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a single by Ramon Valdez and scored on a single by Hunter Owen, moving Valdez to second. Diaz went to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Kyle Simmons to extend the Railroaders' lead to 5-2.

     The Hoppers scored in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brandon Boggetto and Zac Carter led off with walks. Boggetto scored on a double by Trevor Lowe, and Carter scored on a sacrifice fly to narrow Fulton's lead to 5-4.

     Hoptown tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Derek Ferch led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a triple by Zac Carter, knotting the game at 5-5.

     The Railroaders retook the lead when Cody Burton led off with a walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Matt Skrzypiec to make the difference in the 6-5 win.

     Fulton was led at the plate by Matt Skrzypiec, who went 2-for-4 with home run, a run scored and three runs batted in; Ramon Valdez, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs and an RBI; and Hunter Owen, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Michael Diaz scored twice for the Railroaders.

     For Hoptown, Trevor Lowe went 2-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI, and Derek Ferch went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

     On the mound, Isaac Behme went the distance to bring home the championship with 120 pitches, allowing five runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking three.

     For the Hoppers, Cole Isom took the loss in relief, allowing one run on two hits, striking out six and walking two in five innings. Jake Bell started for Hoptown, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking one in three innings. Trevor Blocker came on in the fourth inning, allowing no hits and walking two in an inning of work.