Hopkinsville gave up five two-out runs in the fifth inning Tuesday and had its three-game winning streak halted with an 8-6 baseball loss at Marshall County. The Tigers, who are playing three straight road games to end their regular-season slate, opened the road trip with a tough loss after taking a 5-3 lead into the fifth.
After two quick groundouts by the Marshals to open the bottom half of that fateful inning, the host squad found new life on one of five Hoptown errors and put Clay Hale on first with two gone. What followed next was a single, walk, another HHS error and a key two-run triple by Brady Ives to put Marshall County up 7-5. The Tigers never tied or led the rest of the way.
Hopkinsville seemed poised for a comeback rally in the sixth, loading the bases with nobody out, but Marshals relief pitcher Reese Oakley got Ryan Myers to line into a double play two pitches later. The Tigers did manage to scratch across one more run on senior Landon Snyder’s two-out RBI hit. Oakley went on to pick off Snyder at first base, though, ending the threat.
MCHS starting pitcher Evan Oakley gave up one hit and two unearned runs, but exited after one inning on the mound. Reese Oakley (1-1) then pitched six innings out of the bullpen and won his first game of 2021, scattering six hits, striking out six and giving up four runs (three earned) to close out the contest.
Hoptown dominated the game early, taking an early 1-0 lead when Zach Moss singled to left and drove in Myers in the top of the first inning. Tim Canlser made it 2-0 when he drew a two-out walk with the bases loaded, but Jacob Dilday’s groundout to second kept the damage relatively minimal.
The Tigers eventually took leads of 3-1 on a Marshall County error, 4-1 on a Logan Durst RBI double and 5-1 on a solo home run by Myers in the top of the fourth. It was the first bomb of the year for Myers, who still owns the team lead in RBIs (25) for the season. He finished 1-for-3 with two runs and a walk.
Marshall County (11-10) was led by the top of its lineup, as Ives, Evan Oakley, Conner Mannon and Ethan Landis — batter Nos. 1-4 in the order — combined to go 6-for-12 with six runs, five RBIs and four walks.
Kaden West (2-for-3, two runs, two stolen bases) also had a strong night at the plate despite the loss. Dilday (1-2) gave up seven hits, five walks and three unearned runs in 4 2/3 innings. He was responsible for the runners that scored to give the Marshals the advantage, leading to Dilday’s second loss.
