Tigers’ Rally Foiled as Colonels Prevail in Extras

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the seventh on Friday, the Hopkinsville Tigers rallied to force extra innings on Chase Fort’s two-run single, but hosts Christian County laughed last when Jonathan Lewis crossed the plate in the bottom of the eighth to give the Colonels a 5-4 walk-off victory.

With JJ Thompson on the mound for the Tigers and the Colonels countering with Gage Montes, Hopkinsville took the lead in the top of the third on Zach Moss’ RBI single to score Andrew Mayes.  Another run came in when Gavin Powell hit into a fielder’s choice for a 2-0 Hoptown advantage.

But the Colonels answered immediately, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk and getting on the scoreboard on a Tiger error.  Sebastian Dazey followed with a two-run double to push Christian County in front, and another Hoptown miscue allowed a fourth run to score.

However, Thompson found his groove on the mound and allowed only a single baserunner over the next three frames to keep the Tigers within striking distance.  Down to their final out with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Fort came through with a two-run single to tie the game.

Thompson found himself in trouble after the Colonels used a pair of two-out singles and a walk to load the bases,  but a ground out to first sent the game to extra innings.

The Tigers threatened in their half of the eighth when Thompson doubled and Moss was issued an intentional walk to put runners on first and second with one out.  But Eddie Davis, on in relief of Montes, got a ground out and a fly out to center to end the inning.

Christian County ended things in the bottom of the frame, with Jonathan Lewis and Aiden Lewis putting runners at the corners with a pair of singles.  Sholar hit a sharp grounder to first, and after stepping on the bag, the Tigers’ throw home came too late to get Lewis.

Montes went five strong innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.  Davis came on to start the sixth, surrendering two earned runs on four hits with a strikeout and three walks.

Thompson gave up four runs, three earned, on seven hits with ten strikeouts and a pair of walks over six and a third.  Gavin Powell worked one and a third, allowing an earned run on four hits with a walk.  Thompson and Gavin Mitchell both hit safely twice for the Tigers.

Dazey led the way at the plate for the Colonels with three hits and two RBI, and Aiden Lewis and Jacob Jenkins each finished with two hits.

Hopkinsville slipped to 16-1, 2-1 in district play, with its sixth loss in the series.  The Tigers will look to bounce back on Monday with a trip to Caldwell County.

Christian County ran its district mark to 6-1 to improve to 8-16 ahead of a visit from Graves County on Saturday.