(From Hopkinsville)  Owensboro pitcher Caleb Johnson pitched a gem of a game at Hoptown, missing a complete game by only one batter in throwing a four-hitter in leading the Oilers to a 4-1 win Wednesday to move the Oilers into sole possession of first place in the Ohio Valley League.
     Johnson (2-1) allowed one unearned run in the ninth inning on four hits, striking out nine and walking two in 8 2/3 innings. Jordan Kesson came on and struck out the one batter he faced to get his first save of the season.
     Owensboro (18-7) broke the scoreless tie in the fourth inning when Tyler Rachel was hit by a pitch, went to third on back-to-back wild pitches and scored on a Tyler Adams single to give the Oilers a 1-0 lead.
     They tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Harold Diaz got a one-out single and scored on Dalton West's first home run of the season, putting Owensboro ahead 3-0.
     The Oilers added another run in the seventh when Taylor Matthews singled, went to third on a failed pickoff and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alfredo Bohorques to put Owensboro ahead 4-0.
     Hoptown (17-8) got a run in the ninth inning when Mitchell Gallagher reached on a two-base error and scored on a Chris Carrier single to end the scoring at 4-1.
     Seven Owensboro batters each had a hit, led by West's home run and two runs batted in.
     Hoptown was paced by Carrier, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Bubba Olivera slapped a double for the Hoppers.
     On the mound, starter Geordie Carlson (3-2) took the loss for Hoptown, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out six and walking one in six innings. Heath Petty pitched the seventh inning, allowing one unearned run on one hit and striking out one. Trevor Blocker threw the eighth inning, allowing no hits and striking out one, and Reese Johnson pitched the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one.