(From Hopkinsville) The visiting Owensboro Oilers led 4-0 in the middle of the third inning, but the offensive pendulum swung back on the Hoptown Hoppers' side, as the home team outscored the Oilers 10-1 from that point, plating five runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal the 10-5 first-round playoff win.
     Hoptown will host top seed Dubois County on Friday in the first game of a best-of-three semifinal series. Madisonville and Fulton will play in the other semifinal bracket.
     Owensboro got on the scoreboard in the top of the first when Ben Rhodes led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Alfredo Bohorques. Riley Benner hit a two-out single to move Rhodes to third, and a Braxton Morris single scored him to put the Oilers ahead 1-0.
     Owensboro tacked on a couple of runs in the second inning when Drew Bene led off with a single and went to second on a sac bunt by Josh Wetzel. Rhodes stepped up and popped a two-out two-run homer to give the Oilers a 3-0 lead.
     The team added one more in the third when Benner hit a one-out double and scored on a double by Ty Broady to push the Oilers' lead to 4-0.
     Hoptown finally put something on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning when Matt Dunlevy led off with aTurner, single and went to second on a bunt single by John Davis. Both runners advanced on a balk, and a single by Ernie de la Trinidad brought them both home to trim Owensboro's lead to 4-2.
     The Hoppers plated another run in the fourth inning when Trent Turner led off with a walk, went to second on a Will Olsen single. An error by the Oilers and RBI single by John Davis allowed Turner to score, cutting the deficit to 4-3.
     Owensboro rebounded in the seventh inning when Rhodes led off with a walk and Bohorques singled him to third. A single by Tyler Tichenor scored Rhodes to give the Oilers a 5-3 lead.
     Hoptown countered in the bottom half of the inning when de la Trinidad led off with a double, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Cody Duncan drew a one-out walk, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Turner to knot the game at 5-5.
     The Hoppers broke in open in the bottom of the eighth inning when Dunlevy hit a one-out single, followed by a single by Davis. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, and de la Trinidad was intentionally walked to load the bases. Matt Cogen then cleared the bases with a double, followed by a walk to Cody Duncan. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single by Turner to end the scoring at 10-5.
     Hoptown was led at the plate by de la Trinidad, who went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two runs batted in; Turner, who went 2-for-4 with a run and three RBIs; Davis, who went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI; Dunlevy, who went 2-for-4 with two runs; and Olsen, who went 2-for-4. Cogen and Bo Coolen each had a double for the Hoppers, Cogen had three RBIs and Duncan scored two runs.
     Owensboro was paced by Rhodes, who went 4-for-4 with a home run, three runs and two RBIs. Benner went 3-for-5 with a double and a run, and Bohorques went 2-for-4. Ty Broady added a double for the Oilers.
     Parker Cash got the win in relief for Hoptown, allowing no runs on three hits, striking out two in two innings of work. Brady Walsh started for the Hoppers, allowing five runs on 10 hits, striking out three and walking one in six-plus innings. Christian Myers retired the side in the ninth inning, striking out one.
     Chase Randolph took the loss for Owensboro, allowing five runs on four hits, striking out one and walking two in one inning. Ivey Starling started for the Oilers, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out three and walking three in six-plus innings. Rhodes came on in the seventh, allowing one run on one hit, striking out one and walking one in an inning of work.