The Hoptown Hoppers answered a five-run inning with a five-run frame, and went on to win 10-7 at Madisonville Tuesday night in Ohio Valley League action.
The OVL West-leading Hoppers (11-6) saw the homestanding Miners (5-9) go in front 6-5 by scoring five times in the bottom of the fifth inning — powered by Chris Ammirati’s grand slam to center with one out.
However, Hoptown put up a five-spot of its own in the top of the sixth to regain the upper hand.
Ben Huber’s two-run homer capped the big Hopper inning and put the visitors up 10-6. That came after an error had allowed the tying run to score. Santrel Farmer scored on a wild pitch to give Hoptown a 7-6 lead, then Jacob Jenkins singled home Cameron Hill to make it 8-6.
Madisonville picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 10-7, but both bullpens were solid the rest of the way, posting zeroes over the final three innings.
Starting pitcher Cam Barlow (4-0) went five innings and picked up the win for the Hoppers. He allowed six earned runs on five base hits but struck out nine while allowing two walks.
Brennan Crooms, the fourth Hoptown hurler of the night, worked a scoreless ninth inning for his third save of the season.
Micah Genter was 4-for-5 and scored three times for Hoptown, which out-hit the Miners 13-8 in the contest. Jenkins was 3-for-5 at the plate and knocked in a run for the Hoppers while Huber was 2-for-5 with two runs batted in. Greg Mehlhaff was 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
The Hoppers are on the road again on Wednesday when they visit the first-year Franklin Duelers.