The Hoptown bullpen set down the final 10 batters of the game Friday night as the Hoppers got past the Owensboro Riverdawgs 5-4 at Christian County High School. The win was the third in the last four games for the Hoppers.
The Hoppers broke through first in the bottom of the second. Kurt Paldino took a 1-2 pitch and drove it over the fence in right-center, just to the right of the scoreboard to give Hopkinsville a 1-0 lead.
Hoptown extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After the first three batters in the inning reached base on an error, a hit by pitch, and a single, the Riverdawgs mishandled a grounder off the bat of Paldino, allowing two runs to score as Hoptown moved out to a 3-0 lead.
Owensboro finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. The Riverdawgs used a single, a wild pitch, and another single to cut the Hopper lead to 3-1.
After a leadoff error in the top of the sixth, Owensboro would load the bases with a two-out hit batter and a walk, setting the table for Chase Harlan, and he would take advantage of the opportunity. Harlan would connect on a 2-2 pitch for a triple to right field to empty the bases and give the Riverdawgs their first lead of the night at 4-3. The Owensboro lead would be short-lived, however.
Hoptown got back-to-back singles from Kurt Paldino and Joe Sassi to open the bottom half of the inning. Then, with one out, Riley Garczynski singled to score Paldino and Sassi to put the Hoppers back on top 5-4.
From there it was all about the Hoppers pitching. Chase Gruno and Price Watson combined to set the Riverdawgs down in order over the last three innings as the Hoppers held on for the win.
Kurt Paldino paced the Hoptown hitting attack going 2-4 with a home run. Riley Garczynski ended up 1-4 with 2 RBIs, including the game-winner.
Chase Gruno went three innings in relief for the Hoppers to pick up the win. He allowed three runs, none of them earned, on just one hit, striking out three and walking one.
