A late rally by the Hoptown Hoppers came up just short on Sunday night as the Paducah Chiefs used a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning to win, 8-7.
The loss dropped the Hoppers to 7-2 on the season and they trail the Full Count Rhythm by one game for first place in the OVL standings.
Hoptown trailed 6-0 after six innings as Caysen Mitchell held the Hoppers hitless with eight strikeouts. However, Hoptown got rolling in the seventh, scoring five runs to climb within 6-5.
After Paducah added a run in the bottom of the eighth, the Hoppers tied the game at 7-7 in the top of the ninth inning with a two-out rally using a pair of walks and two singles.
However, Troy Dooley got the game-winning single with one out in the 10th for the Chiefs.
Chance Sweeney led the Hoppers with a pair of hits.
Hoptown will play host to Full Count at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday with first place on the line. Airtime for the game is 6:15 p.m. on 95.3 The Farm and 953thefarm.com.
Score by Innings:
Hoptown 000 000 502 0 – 7 6 1
Paducah 030 003 010 1 – 8 16 1
WP – C. Mitchell
LP – Hampton (5 IP, 3 SO, 1 BB)
Leading Hitters: Hoptown – Reynolds (1B), Sweeney (2 1B), Hartman (1B), Wall (1B), Beaty (1B).