(From Hopkinsville) The homestanding Hoptown Hoppers took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning, but gave up three runs in the top of the ninth inning to give Dubois County a 7-5 lead. Hoptown mounted a rally of its own, scoring a run in the bottom half of the frame, but left the bases loaded in the Bombers' 7-6 win.
     The win put the first-place Bombers (25-13) a full game lead over idle Fulton (24-14) -- each team having two regular-season games remaining -- while Hoptown fell to 14-23.
     Dubois County got on the scoreboard first when Daniel Johnson was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch to give the Bombers an early 1-0 lead.
     Hoptown took its first lead in the bottom of the second inning when Kyle Hubbuch led off with a single and scored on Trent Turner's second home run of the year to put the Hoppers ahead 2-1.
     The Bombers responded in the top of the third when Morgan DePew led off with a double, Nick Gobert walked and Blake McNamara singled in DePew, moving Gobert to third. Gobert scored during a double play to put Dubois County back on top, 3-2.
     Hoptown answered in kind in the bottom of the third when Will Olson reached on an error and Hubbuch and Matt Dunlevy each singled to load the bases. Olson was put out at home on a fielder's choice, but a two-out single by John Davis plated Hubbuch and Dunlevy to regive the Hoppers the lead, 4-3.
     The Bombers tied the score in the top of the sixth inning when Devyn Newberry reached on a two-base error then scored on a single by Cody Krumlauf to knot the score at 4-4.
     The Hoppers reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh when Bo Coolen led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Hubbuch singled him to third and Dunlevy singled him home to give Hoptown a 5-4 lead.
     In the top of the ninth inning, Alex Mueller and Gobert each drew two-out walks. Mueller was driven in by a single by Drake McNamara and Gobert and McNamara scored on a single by Noah Sadler to put the Bombers ahead 7-5.
     In the Hoppers' half of the ninth, Olson led off with a single and Parker Cash was hit by a pitch. Jimmy Cubillos reached on a fielder's choice, moving Olson to third, and Olson scored on a sacrifice fly. Davis and Zac Sanders each drew two-out walks to load the bases, but Ernie de la Trnindad hit a long fly ball in foul territory near the left-field foul pole that was tracked down by Newberry to preserve the 7-6 win.
     Hoptown left 13 runners on base, while the Bombers left eight.
     Dubois County was led at the plate by McNamara, who went 4-for-5 with a run and two runs batted in. Thomas Rea went 2-for-4 with a triple, and Noah Sadler went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. DePew had a double for the Bombers, while Gobert scored two runs.
     Hoptown was paced by Hubbuch, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Turner went 2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored and three RBIs, while Dunlevy went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI and de la Trinidad went 2-for-6. Davis had two RBIs for the Hoppers.

Konner Eck (1-0) got the win in relief, allowing one run on two hits and walking three in 1 1/3 innings. Ryan Dills started for the Bombers, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out two and walking two in five innings of work. Hunter Spencer came on in the sixth, allowing one run on three hits and striking out one in 1 1/3 innings. Nicholas Scheller entered in the seventh, walking one in one inning. Eck came on to close out the eighth and into the ninth inning, then Jay Prior pitched the last out of the ninth inning to earn his first save of the season.

Christian Myers (1-5) took the loss for the Hoppers, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out three and walking two in pitching the eighth and ninth innings. Zach Denney started for Hoptown, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out two and walking two in 5 2/3 innings. Bo Coolen came on in the sixth inning, allowing no runs on one hit in 1 1/3 innings.