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				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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