(From Hopkinsville) The Fulton Railroaders held off a Hoptown Hoppers rally, scoring two runs in the seventh inning and two in the ninth to maintain the 7-4 win Sunday night.
     Fulton (3-0) led 3-1 in the middle of the fifth inning, but Hoptown (0-2) scored two runs in the bottom half of the fame to tie the game at 3-3.
     The Railroaders opened the scoring in the first inning when Brad Baldwin led off with a single and went to third when John Anderson reached on an error. Baldwin scored on a Kipp Moore single to give Fulton an early 1-0 lead.
     Hoptown responded in the bottom half of the inning when Ernie de la Trinidad led off with a single, stole second, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Hubbuch to even the score at 1-1.
     Fulton struck again in the top of the third when Moore led off with a single and scored on a Kyle Uhrich double to put the Railroaders ahead 2-1. In the top of the fifth, Fulton extended its lead when Moore led off with a single, stole second and scored on a Tyler Hilton single to push the lead to 3-1.
     The Hoppers tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when Hubbuch was hit by a pitch and Trent Turner was hit by a pitch. Will Olson reached on a fielder's choice, and Hubbuch scored on an error. Matt Dunlevy singled in Turner to tie the game at 3-3.
     The Railroaders responded in the top of the seventh when Uhrich drew a two-out walk and went to second on a balk. Hilton singled in Uhrich and went to second on the throw, then scored on a Clayton Connor single to put Fulton ahead 5-3.
     The team added two insurance runs in the ninth when Carlos Williams popped a two-out single and stole second. Colton Aldridge walked, then Drew Greenwood singled in Williams. Aldridge scored on a fielding error to give Fulton a 7-3 lead.
     Hoptown added a run in the ninth when de la Trinidad walked, went to third when Cody Duncan reached on an error and scored on a groundout to end the scoring.
     Justin Hayden (1-0) got the win in relief, allowing no runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings. Eddie Mathis started for Fulton, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out five and walking none in 5 1/3 innings. Chandler Amason and Kyle Estand each pitched an inning each to finish the last two innings for Fulton, allowing one unearned run on no hits, striking out two and walking one.
     Christian Myers (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one in one inning. Bryan Cruse started for the Hoppers, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits, striking out five and walking one in six innings. Will Bishop came on in the eighth, allowing one hit, striking out one and walking one in one inning. Adam Ness started the ninth inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and walking one in two-thirds of an inning, and Jordan Martin closed out the game, allowing one hit in one-third of an inning.
     Moore led Fulton at the plate with a 3-for-4 night with two runs scored and a run batted in. Hilton went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, Williams went 2-for-5 with a run and Greenwood went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Uhrich had a double for the Railroaders.
     Hoptown was paced by Dunlevy, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI. de la Trinidad scored twice for the Hoppers, while Hubbuch had two RBIs.