Hilltoppers defeat Meridian 7-3

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[May 05, 2022]    The Hilltoppers traveled to Macon on Monday afternoon to take on the Meridian Hawks at the newly-named Brian Snitker Field. 

 

The Hilltoppers never trailed in the game and went on to defeat the Hawks 7-3.

 

Landon Smith and Liam Smith each drove in a run in the top of the first inning to give the Hilltoppers a 2-0 lead. Landon Smith’s sacrifice fly drove in AJ Bailey while Liam Smith singled to drive in Evan Cooper.

 

The Hilltoppers increased their lead to 4-1 in the top of the third inning. Jackson Fricke singled to drive in Landon Smith with one run. Clay Aylesworth’s ground out scored Colt Selinger with the other Mount Pulaski run.

 

The Hilltoppers plated two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on three walks, a bunt single, a wild pitch and a passed ball. 

 

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Hawks made it a 6-3 ballgame. 

 

Fricke’s RBI double in the top of the sixth inning drove in the Hilltoppers final run

 

The Hawks were retired easily in their final six at-bats and the Hilltoppers went on to claim the 7-3 win. 

 

In fact, the Smith brothers, Gavin and Liam, combined to retire the side on strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh inning. 

 

Gavin Smith (3-0) picked up the win for Mount Pulaski. Smith tossed six and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on three hits. All of the runs were unearned. He struck out 11 batters and walked five.

 

Liam Smith tossed five pitches to the last Hawks batter in the seventh inning, recording a strikeout to end the game.

 

Jackson Fricke led the Hilltoppers offense. Fricke was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

 

AJ Bailey, Evan Cooper, Landon Smith, Liam Smith and Lucas Kuhlman each had a hit for Mount Pulaski. 

 

The Hilltoppers record improved to 17-3.

 

Mount Pulaski will host Athens on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.

 

Note: Brian Snitker is the manager of the 2021 World Champion Atlanta Braves. Snitker was a member of the 1971 Macon Ironmen, who finished second in the 1971 IHSA State Baseball Tournament. Snitker also played baseball at Lincoln College. 

[Teena Lowery]

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