Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers baseball finish the week on a losing note

[March 26, 2018]  • The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers managed to get a couple baseball games in late last week before the frigid temperatures and mix of rain and sleet hit the area.

MP vs Pawnee Indians

On Thursday Mount Pulaski traveled to Pawnee to take on the Indians. Ben Fricke had an RBI single in the first inning to give the Hilltoppers an early 1-0 lead. Pawnee scored two runs in the second inning, taking the lead on a bases loaded walk. Pawnee plated another run in the sixth inning and went on to grab the 3-1 win.

Tanner Farris (0-2) took the loss for Mount Pulaski. Farris gave up three runs on six hits. He worked six innings and struck out five batters.

Jackson Bland earned the win for Pawnee. Bland scattered four hits and allowed just one run over seven innings of work. He struck out 14 Hilltoppers.

• Ben Fricke, Drew Martin, Todd Kelly and Tanner Farris each had hits for Mount Pulaski.

MP vs Blue Ridge

On Friday afternoon the Hilltoppers hosted Blue Ridge on Bob Gasaway Field at Veteran's Park in Mount Pulaski. The Hilltoppers fell way behind early and could not mount a comeback.

• Blue Ridge got on the scoreboard in the first inning as Todd Kelly's wild pitch allowed one run to score. Blue Ridge would score four times in the second inning and add six more runs in the third inning.

The Hilltoppers offense struggled and the result was an 11-0 loss to Blue Ridge.

• Mount Pulaski managed just one hit. Drew Martin had a fourth inning single and that was all the offense for the Hilltoppers.

• Jayden Dalton earned the victory on the pitcher's mound for Blue Ridge. He worked four innings, allowing one hit and no runs while striking out six. Aaron Jayne threw one inning in relief out of the bullpen.

• Todd Kelly (0-1) took the loss for Mount Pulaski. Kelly gave up 10 runs on seven hits over two and a third innings, striking out two.

• Blue Ridge had nine hits in the game. Dane Houser and Jacob Mozingo each had multiple hits for Blue Ridge.

Mount Pulaski falls to 1-3 on the season.

The Hilltoppers will travel to Mason City on Tuesday to take on Illini Central. Thursday Mount Pulaski will host Decatur LSA. All games are scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.

[Teena Lowery]