Hilltoppers win season opener 5-2 over Central A & M

[March 23, 2022]  The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers baseball team opened the 2022 season on Monday afternoon with a 5-2 win over Central A & M in Assumption.

The Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Clay Aylesworth. 

Liam Smith added an RBI single in the fourth inning to put the Hilltoppers up 2-0.

In the bottom of the fourth inning Central A & M scored a run to cut the lead in half, 2-1 in favor of Mount Pulaski.

The Hilltoppers added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning. Landon Smith’s RBI single made the score 3-1. Two wild pitches later and the Hilltoppers sent Evan Cooper and Colt Selinger home to score. 

Central A & M scored once in the bottom of the seventh inning to set the final score at 5-2.

Landon Smith (1-0) was the winning pitcher for Mount Pulaski. Smith tossed four innings and struck out 8 batters. He allowed three hits and one run. 

Gavin Smith pitched an inning and one-third for Mount Pulaski. He struck out one batter. 

Evan Cooper pitched the final one and two-thirds innings and allowed one run while striking out two batters. Cooper earned the save.

Mount Pulaski had six hits off Central A & M pitching. 

Landon Smith led the Hilltoppers offense with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate. 

Gavin Smith, Liam Smith, Lucas Kuhlman and Clay Aylesworth also had hits for the Hilltoppers.

Mount Pulaski is scheduled to play at Pawnee tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

[Teena Lowery]