Hilltoppers crush El Paso-Gridley 15-5 
Gavin Smith drives in five runs as Mount Pulaski reaches 20 wins

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[May 13, 2022]    The Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers reached win no. 20 on the season Thursday afternoon with a 15-5 crushing of El Paso-Gridley at Veterans Park

 

The Hilltoppers scored in every inning of the game, which was over in five innings. 

 

Chance Payne’s RBI single in the bottom of the first inning put the Hilltoppers on the board.

 

The Hilltoppers took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Gavin Smith’s double plated two runs for Mount Pulaski. Liam Smith also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Payne hit a line drive to right to score another run for Mount Pulaski. 

 

The top of the third inning saw El Paso-Gridley tie the game 5-5. 

 

Lucas Kuhlman put the Hilltoppers in front 6-5 with an RBI single in the bottom of the third inning. Evan Cooper  also drove in a run. Landon Smith joined in the fun with a line drive to center and as Kolin Gibbs crossed home plate, the Hilltoppers lead was 8-5.

 

The Hilltoppers continued to pound out the hits in the fourth inning. Clay Aylesworth got things started with a lead-off triple to center. AJ Bailey and Kuhlman walked to load the bases for Gavin Smith. Smith’s base hit to left field drove in two runs and the Hilltoppers had a 10-5 lead. Evan Cooper drove in Kuhlman to make the score 11-5.

 

The Hilltoppers kept the hit parade going in the fifth inning as Bailey smacked a double and Gavin Smith, Evan Cooper and Jackson Fricke added singles. Walks to Kuhlman and Landon Smith helped the offense score four runs in the inning and end the game via the 10-run rule. 

 

Mount Pulaski’s 17 hits on the day allowed the Hilltoppers to win in relatively easy fashion, with the final score 15-5.

 

Gavin Smith and Evan Cooper each had an outstanding day at the plate.

 

Gavin Smith was 3-for-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. 

 

Cooper was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

 

Landon Smith, Jackson Fricke, Chance Payne and Lucas Kuhlman were also impressive in the batter’s box. 

 

Landon Smith was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

 

Fricke was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

 

Payne was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

 

Kuhlman was 2-for-2 with two walks, four runs scored and an RBI.

 

Liam Smith, Clay Aylesworth and AJ Bailey each had one hit.

 

Evan Cooper (6-2) picked up the win for the Hilltoppers. Cooper went five innings, allowing just two earned runs on five hits. He struck out one batter and walked one.

 

Mount Pulaski improved their record to 20-4 on the season.

 

The Hilltoppers will play at Cornerstone Christian today at 4:30 p.m.

[Teena Lowery]

 

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