(From Hopkinsville)  The homestanding Hoptown Hoppers pushed out to a 6-0 lead after four innings and held off a late Dubois County rally to pick up the 7-3 win on Sunday. 
     The Hoppers (17-6) got on the scoreboard in the first inning when Matthew Alford reached on an error, went to second on a groundout and scored on a double by Chris Carrier to give Hoptown an early 1-0 lead.
     In the second inning, Hoptown's Ben Fisher led off with a double, Mitchell Gallagher was hit by a pitch and Michael Haun reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Parker Cash drew a one-out walk to score Fisher, putting the Hoppers ahead 2-0.
     In the third inning, Taylor Ellis doubled, went to third on a groundout and scored on a Gallagher single to give Hoptown a 3-0 lead.
     Hoptown broke things open in the fourth inning when Cash reached on a two-base error and went to third on a sac bunt. Ben Rodriguez walked and went to second on a groundout, scoring Cash. Taylor Ellis singled in Rodriguez and Fisher doubled in Ellis to put the Hoppers ahead 6-0.
     Dubois County (10-13) got on the board in the top of the seventh when Dan Giesler hit a two-out single, went to second when Nicholas Barrientos was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Sam Griggs to cut the lead to 6-1.
     In the eighth inning, the Bombers scored again when Glenn Jones hit a one-out single and scored when Nick Gobert hit his first home run of the season to further trim the lead to 6-3.
     Hoptown plated a run in the eighth inning when Cash was hit by a pitch, went to third on an error and scored on a passed ball to seal the scoring at 7-3.
     The Hoppers were led by Ellis, Fisher and Haun, who each had two hits in the game. Fisher had two doubles, while Ellis and Carrier each had one. Cash and Ellis each scored two runs, and Carrier had two runs batted in.
     Dubois County was paced by Jones, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Gobert hit a home run for the Bombers and had two RBIs.
     On the mound, Evan Tidwell (3-1) got the win, allowing one unearned run on four hits, striking out six and walking one in seven innings. Taylor Blair entered in the eighth inning, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out one in one inning of work. Josh Drake closed out the game, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one in one inning.
     D.J. Eckert (1-3) took the loss for the Bombers, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out four and walking two in two innings. Christian Vain entered in the third inning, allowing three unearned runs on five hits, walking two in four innings of work. Brian Wichman closed out the game for Dubois County, allowing one unearned run on no hits, striking out one in two innings.