Hilltoppers edge Athens 4-2

[May 11, 2021]  Mount Pulaski traveled to Athens Monday afternoon to play the Warriors and with Drew Martin taking the mound for the Hilltoppers the visitors came away with a 4-2 win.

Martin tossed six and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball. He allowed two runs while striking out 12 batters. Martin earned the win for Mount Pulaski. Evan Cooper was credited with the save after retiring the final batter for a strikeout.

Mount Pulaski got on the scoreboard first with a run in the fourth inning. Martin started the inning with a single to left. He stole second and then took third on a wild pitch. Martin scored a run when the Warriors catcher made an error.

The Warriors took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning over the Hilltoppers. Martin recorded two quick outs in the fourth inning, but then walked the next two batters. Martin would strike out the last batter of the inning but not before the runners scored via a wild pitch and a passed ball. Athens took a 2-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning.

The Hilltoppers tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth inning when Lucas Kuhlman drew a leadoff walk, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout by Garrett Fitzpatrick and scored on a sacrifice fly by Clay Aylesworth.

The game was tied 2-2 until the top of the seventh inning. Grant Davis doubled to left to start the late-game rally. Kuhlman reached on an error by the first baseman and Davis scrambled over to third. Davis scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. The Hilltoppers added an insurance run on an RBI single to left by A.J. Bailey. The 4-2 Hilltoppers lead was good enough heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Martin took the mound in the seventh and after a leadoff walk he retired the next two guys on groundouts. With the runner on third, Cooper entered the game in relief of Martin and struck out the last batter looking on four pitches.

Mount Pulaski won the game by a final score of 4-2.

The Hiltoppers improved their overall record to 9-0 on the season.

A.J. Bailey led the Mount Pulaski offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Bailey batted in a run. Evan Cooper, Drew Martin and Grant Davis each had a hit for Mount Pulaski.

Tommy Westervelt took the loss for the Warriors. He allowed five hits and four runs while striking out eight batters.

Mount Pulaski will play at Argenta-Oreana on Wednesday. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.

[Teena Lowery]