(From Hopkinsville) The homestanding Hoptown Hoppers broke out the bats Wednesday against the Owensboro Oilers, outscoring the Oilers 11-1 after the first inning en route to the 11-3 win.
Both teams struggled on the mound, with the Hoppers (4-4) giving up eight walks and the Oilers (4-6) allowing 11 passes and hitting three batters.
     Owensboro plated two runs in the top of the first when Alfredo Bohorques walked and stole second and Tyler Tichenor walked. Aaron King reached on a fielder's choice to load the bases, and Ty Broady singled in Bohorques. Jake Wilson walked in Tichenor to give the Oilers an early 2-0 lead.
     Hoptown got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Mitch Gallaher hit a one-out double and Zac Sanders singled him to third. Gallagher scored on a groundout, and Ernie de la Trinidad doubled in Sanders to tie the score at 2-2. John Davis singled in de la Trinidad to put the Hoppers ahead 3-2.
Owensboro retied the game in the fifth inning when Ben Rhodes reached on a fielder's choice, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single from Bohorques to knot the game at 3-3.
     Hoptown took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Davis, Will Olson and Matt Crowder each drew walks to lead off the inning. Davis scored on a fielder's choice, Olson scored on a wild pitch and Matt Dunlevy drew a walk. Bo Coolen, who reached on a fielder's choice, scored on a balk, and Jimmy Cubillos singled in Dunlevy to put the Hoppers ahead 7-3.
     Hoptown scored four more runs in the sixth inning when de la Trinidad led off with a single, stole second and took third when the catcher's throw went into center field. Davis walked and Olson singled in de la Trinidad. Davis and Olson advanced on a wild pitch, and Crowder was intentionally walked to load the bases. Davis scored on a groundout, Olson scored on a fielder's choice and Crowder scored on a wild pitch to give Hoptown a 10-3 lead.
     The Hoppers capped the scoring in the seventh inning when Cubillos hit a one-out single, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder's choice to end the scoring at 11-3.
     Cubillos led the Hoppers at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. De la Trinidad went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI, while Olson went 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Coolen had a double and two RBIs, while Davis scored two runs and Mitch Gallagher had a double.
     For Owensboro, Bohorques went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI and King went 2-for-4 with a double. Rhodes also had a double for the Oilers.
     On the mound, starter Nick Eggemeyer (1-0) got the win, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out two and walking six in five innings. Will Bishop picked up his first save of the season, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out two and walking two in four innings of work.
     Bryce Wilz (0-1) started and took the loss for the Oilers, allowing five runs on six hits, walking six in four-plus innings. Trey Robledo came on in the fifth, allowing two runs on no hits and walking two in one-third of an inning. John Hackemoller entered in the fifth, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking two in 1 2/3 innings, and Ben Rhodes came in from left field to pitch in the seventh, allowing one run on one hit, striking out one in one-third of an inning. Peyton Johnson closed out the game for Owensboro, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out one and walking one in 1 2/3 innings.