(From Owensboro)  The Owensboro Oilers won their Thursday night home game over the visiting Hopkinsville Hoppers by the final score of 7 to 3.
     The Hoppers scored first with one run in the top of the 1st inning. Leadoff hitter Ernie de la Trinidad walked and Cody Duncan followed with an RBI triple to score the lead runner. Oilers pitching and defense settled in and recorded three outs without further scoring.
     Owensboro answered with one run in the bottom of the 1st inning. Tyler Tichenor and Alfredo Bohorques both singled to start the home half. One out later, Riley Benner walked to load the bases. Conner McHugh reached on an error during an attempted double play. Tichenor scored as Bohorques moved to third, with Benner forced out. At the end of one complete inning the game was a 1-1 tie. The Oilers took the lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Mark VanDenlangerberg was hit by a pitch. An escaping pick off attempt allowed VanDenlangerberg to move to third base. He scored when Alex Jones followed with an RBI groundout.
     Hopkinsville tied the score with a run in the top of the 5th inning. With one away, de la Trinidad bunt singled then consecutively stole both second and third bases. Duncan walked. Duncan was caught stealing attempting to take second base, and de la Trinidad came in on the throw that cut down Duncan.
     The Oilers took back the lead and control with three runs in the bottom of the 5th inning. Bohorques was hit by a pitch, but caught attempting to steal second base. Ty Broady singled and Benner walked. A fly out later, Jake Wilson hit a 3-RBI home run over the right field wall. At the end of five complete innings the home team led 5 to 2.
     The Hoppers closed the gap with one run in the top of the 6th inning. Trent Turner singled and moved all the way to third base on a wild pitch. Matt Dunlevy followed with an RBI single to drive Turner in.
     Owensboro solidified the hold on the game with two runs in bottom of the 6th inning. With one out, Bohorques reached on an error. Broady followed by also reaching on an error and Bohorques scored. Benner grounded out, but moved Broady on to second base. Conner McHugh reached on an error and Broady scored. At the end of six complete innings the score was Oilers 7 to Hoppers 3. That score stood up to become final.
     Oilers starter Damon DJ Davis gets the win. Hopkinsville starter Adam Ness takes the loss.