The Miners downed the Hoptown Hoppers 4-3 at Elmer Kelley on Wednesday night. The win brought the Miners back to .500 for the season at 9-9, and the loss dropped the Hoppers to 7-12. Click HERE for the complete box score.
Madisonville got on the board with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Nolan Ramsey singled and drove in Connor Moss, who was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then stole third base. Hoptown responded with one run in the top of the third, when Jimmy Cubillos walked and later scored on an RBI-triple by Ernie de la Trinidad.
The score remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth inning, when the Miners got a solo home run from Wesley Birchmeier, who went 3-for-3 on the night. The Miners picked up two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Gabe Franklin (scoring Tyler Greiner) and an RBI-double from Cory Finkler (scoring Addison Rospert).
The Hoppers cut into the 4-1 deficit in the top of the eighth inning after Madisonville starter Kyle Vedrode was lifted for Mathias Brewers. Zac Sanders and Cubillos started the inning off with back-to-back singles off Brewers. The Miners doubled off Sanders after a line drive out by de la Trinidad, but a John Davis double and a walk by Will Olson set the stage for a two RBI single by Matt Crowder, who faced Miner reliever Nicholas Purpera.
Vedrode, who scattered three hits and one run over seven complete innings, got the Win for the Miners. Vedrode walked one and stuck out seven. Purpera picked up the Save for the Miners. Hopper starter Nick Eggemeyer got the Loss, allowing 4 fours (three earned) on seven hits, three walks, and five strikeouts.
Madisonville hosts a doubleheader against Fulton on Thursday night, while the Hoppers get a night off. Game One of the Fulton/Madisonville doubleheader will get underway at 5:00 pm Central. In other OVL action on the card for Thursday night, Owensboro will visit Dubois County.
