The Hopkinsville Tigers nearly came all the way back against McCracken County Saturday afternoon. After falling behind 5-0, the Tigers would load the bases with only one out in the bottom of the seventh with the tying run on first and the winning run at the plate.
However, the Mustangs were able to get the Tigers to fly out and then double up the runner at second base to end the game, as McCracken County survived with a 6-3 win. The game-ending out marked the fifth time in seven innings that the Tigers were thrown out on the base paths to end an inning.
McCracken County scored two runs in each of their first two at-bats to take an early 4-0 lead. The Mustangs seemingly had their things going completely in their direction when they added a run in the top of the fourth to make it 5-0.
Then, the Tigers started making their move to chip away at the lead.
After a walk and a McCracken County error in the bottom of the fourth, Landon Snyder drove in a pair of runs with a single to cut the lead to 5-2.
A Tiger error allowed McCracken County to add an important insurance run in the top of the sixth and take a 6-2 lead.
The last-ditch push from the Tigers began in the bottom of the seventh. Landon Snyder started the inning with a single. A walk and a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Snyder then scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3. A walk loaded the bases setting up the heartbreaking ending for the Tigers.
Landon Snyder led the attack for the Hopkinsville Tigers going 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Logan Durst, Tim Cansler, and Landon Cook had one hit each for the Tigers.
Tim Cansler started for the Tigers, going two innings, giving up four runs on four hits, striking out two, and walking two. Preston Chaudoin pitched five innings in relief, giving up two runs, one of them earned, on three hits, striking out ten and walking three.
The loss drops Hopkinsville to 11-3 on the year. The Tigers are set to return to action Monday in another tough battle as they go on the road to take on 1st Region favorite Paducah Tilghman.
