The Hoptown Hoppers escaped mother nature on Friday to host the Fulton Railroaders. The Hoppers slapped 19 hits, scored 15 runs while holding the Railroaders to just four.
Hoptown came out of the gate strong, as starting pitcher Trey Fortner retired the side. The offense then answered as Blake Jackson smacked a double that drove in Cole Cummings for the game’s first run. MJ Rookard followed suit with a double of his own to score both Jackson and Joe DeFina.
In the second, Fortner sent Fulton down in order once again while DeFina drove in Cummings for his second run in as many innings.
It was a quiet third before Fulton sent one yard in the fourth.
Leading 4-1, Hoptown answered with a run of their own as Max Remy drove in Cummings.
In the fifth, the Hoppers extended their lead to five as Cole Cummings grounded out but managed to score Aidan Elias.
Hoptown then flipped the switch, netting a five-spot in four consecutive at-bats during the sixth. Getting things started was Elias driving in Rookard. A Fulton error then scored Matt Keane. After Cord Johnson scored Elias, Cummings drilled a double to deep center that scored both Johnson and John Michael Reed.
With the game ultimately out of reach at 11-1, Fulton managed to grab a run in the seventh and two in the eighth.
However, their pecking was strongly answered by Hoptown as they put up four more in the eighth.
Cummings continued his monster night, driving in Elias on a single. Jackson then drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Cord Johnson. For the final two runs of the night, Rookard singled to score both Cummings and Remy.
Fortner earned the win for Hoptown by going five innings to fan six, allow just two hits and one run.
Caleb Neal (13 hits, eight runs, two K’s) took the loss.
For Cummings, it was a record-setting performance. With five hits, he joins Ernie De La Trinidad and Reese Alexiades as the only Hoppers with five-hit games.
His official line was 5-6 with three doubles, two singles, four RBI and four runs scored.
Elias and Rookard also had successful nights, both going 4-5 at the plate. Elias had four singles, an RBI and three runs scored while Rookard had two doubles, two singles, four RBI and a run scored.
The Hoppers as a team recorded seven doubles, a new team record and the most since last season’s opening win over Paducah.
Hoptown will be on the road Saturday night in Dubois County before they return home for Sunday’s game at Colonel Field against Madisonville.
First pitch is set for 6 P.M. on Sunday.