Ten Hopper hits and five Miner errors aided the Hoptown Hoppers in route to their second win in as many days over the Madisonville Miners. After railroading Fulton Thursday night (20-4), the Hoppers traveled to Elmer Kelley Stadium in Madisonville to spoil the Miners’ Friday night home opener, 7-3.
Both pitchers were locked in early with neither allowing a run through the first two innings. However, Blake Jackson drilled a shot over the outfield wall to put two runs on the board for Hoptown in the third inning.
John Reed added a run off a Miners’ error in the third and John Keane added a run off of a Cole Cummings sac-fly in the sixth.
Leading 4-0, the Hoppers hadn’t given up a hit through four innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, though, Corey Kelley sent a 3-run shot out of the park to cut Hoptown’s lead to 4-3.
When challenged, the Hoppers stood firm. They allowed just one hit in the final two innings while besting the Miners’ offense by adding three runs to finish.
A John Reed sac-fly scored MJ Rookard in the eighth and an error by Kelley scored Malik Blaise and Rookard in the ninth.
Leading the way for Hoptown was Jackson, going 2-5 with a single, home run and 2 RBI. Rookard came on late to go 1-2 with a single and score two runs.
Winning pitcher Trey Fields tossed 74 pitches over five innings to strike out seven while allowing just a hit and walk each. Colin Casey of the Miners’ was granted the loss.
The Hoppers (2-0) and the Miners (0-1) meet again Saturday night for the Hoppers’ home opener at Colonel Field. First pitch is set for 7 P.M.