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Chance Payne (4-0) continues to dominate on the
pitching mound for the Hilltoppers and on Friday he also used
his bat to help Mount Pulaski to a 4-1 win over Clinton. Payne
was 3-for-3 at the plate.
Luke Martin also hit a sixth inning home run to give the
Hilltoppers an extra boost as the team improved to 7-0 on the
season.
Mount Pulaski’s first run of the game crossed home plate in the
second inning, as Carter Clark delivered a sacrifice fly to
score Colt Selinger. Payne and Franklin Wade had singled earlier
in the inning.
In the bottom of the third inning Mount Pulaski scored another
run after a walk, single and an error. Payne helped his own
cause with a single in the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning Payne led off with a triple in
the gap between center and right. He was quickly removed for the
courtesy runner, Selinger, who was able to trot home on Luke
Martin’s home run. Martin’s hit went up, up and away and the
ball carried over the left field fence for the sophomore’s third
home run of the season.
Payne pitched the top of the seventh inning, getting two more
strikeouts before he was removed with 106 pitches thrown. Martin
took the mound in relief and after four pitches he got the
batter to pop out in foul territory to Payne over at first base.
The only run the Maroons scored was unearned in the top of the
third inning.
Payne tossed six and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and
one walk. His 16 strikeouts is a season high after recording 15
strikeouts versus Williamsville on March 22, 2024.
Mount Pulaski had six hits versus Clinton.
In addition to Payne’s three hits, Liam Smith had a double,
Franklin Wade had a single and of course, Luke Martin had a home
run.
[Teena Lowery] |
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