(From Hopkinsville)  A grand slam home run in the bottom of the eighth inning was just enough to give homestanding Hoptown the 9-8 win over Fulton.

     Fulton led off the game with a run in the top of the first inning when Cody Burton led off and got hit by a pitch. He stole second and took third on the errant catcher's throw, scoring on a wild pitch to give the Railroaders an early 1-0 lead.

     Fulton scored again in the top of the second when Taylor Douglas reached with a walk, Kyle Simmons was hit by a pitch and Hunter Owen reached on a fielder's choice. Douglas scored on a groundout, giving the Railroaders a 2-0 lead.

     Fulton scored two runs in the third inning when Matt Skrzypiec was hit by a pitch, went to second on a walk to Michael Sillyman and scored on a single by Garret O'Neill, moving Sillyman to second. Taylor Douglas walked to load the bases and Sillyman scored on a groundout to give the Railroaders a 4-0 lead.

     Hoptown got both runs back in the bottom of the third inning when Zac Carter led off with a single and scored on a two-run shot by Mitch Huckabay to cut the Fulton lead to 4-2.

     Hoptown took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Trevor Lowe led off with a single and went to second on a sac bunt. Mitch Huckabay walked, and Lowe scored on a two-error play in John Beary's at-bat, moving Huckabay to third. Huckabay scored on a bunt single by Bead Sevenish, and Brandon Powell's single scored Beary to give the Hoppers a 5-4 lead.

     Fulton responded in the top of the sixth inning when Kyle Simmons led off with a single and went to third when Hunter Owen reached on a fielder's choice. Cody Burton's single scored Simmons, and Owen scored on a passed ball to give the Railroaders a 6-5 lead.

     Fulton extended its lead in the eighth inning when Hunter Owen was hit by a pitch and went to second on a sac bunt. Michael Diaz reached on a two-base error, scoring Owen, and Diaz scored on a double by Ramon Valdez to give the Railroaders an 8-5 lead.

     Hoptown retook the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Brandon Powell led off with a single and Seth Larue and Brandon Boggetto each walked to load the bases. Trevor Lowe then pounded a grand slam home run over the left-field wall to put the Hoppers ahead 9-8.

     Hoptown was led at the plate by Trevor Lowe, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and four runs batted in; Mitch Huckabay, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs; and Brandon Powell, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

     Fulton was led by Ramon Valdez, who went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI, and Kyle Simmons, who went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Cody Burton had two RBIs for the Railroaders.

     Kyle Barbee got the win for the Hoppers in relief, allowing two unearned runs on four hits, striking out two and walking none in two innings. Jake Bell got the save, coming on in the ninth inning and striking out one. Dustin Tuck started for Hoptown, allowing four runs (three earned) on one hit, striking out two and walking four in three innings. Reese Johnson came on in the fourth inning, allowing one hit and striking out two in two innings. Trevor Blocker pitched the sixth inning, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in one inning.

     Caleb Shelley took the loss for the Railroaders, allowing one run on one hit, walking one in one inning. Thomas Huddleston started for Fulton, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking two in 4 1/3 innings. Ryan Skoubo came on  in the fifth inning, allowing three runs on two hits, striking out one and walking three in 2 2/3 innings.