Marshall County and Hickman County squared off at Preston Cope Field in the first round of the First Region Tournament. The teams split their two regular season meetings but Monday belonged to the Marshals who beat the Falcons 4-1 to advance to the semi-finals against Paducah Tilghman. Paducah Tilghman beat Graves County 4-1 and they will play in the 8:00 game on Tuesday at Marshall County.
After a scoreless first couple of innings, the Marshals got things rolling in the bottom of third with a leadoff single by Ethan Landis. Chase Shelton drew a walk and Alex Staples hit a sacrifice bunt that moved the baserunners to second and third, both scoring on a single off the bat of Chase Hayden. A bases loaded hit by Maddox Cope scored one run and gave the Marshals a 3-0 lead.
Hickman County’s lone run came in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tyler Hoff led off with a double and then scored off a single hit by Anderson Burpo.
One run in the bottom of the fourth that scored on a single by Hayden gave the Marshals a 4-1 lead that held until the final out.
Hickman County loaded the bases in the fifth inning but with Carter McKinney on the mound for the Marshals, two fly ball outs got them out of the inning leaving all three stranded. Facing two on base with two outs in the top of the sixth, McKinney strikes out Nathan Gallimore to end another potential scoring opportunity for the Falcons.
McKinney earned the win over six innings, striking out four and giving up seven hits and one run. Hayden led at the plate, going 2-for-3 and drove in three runs.
Hickman 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 7 2
Marshall 0 0 3 1 0 0 x 4 4 1
Marshall (20-13): Landis 1/2, Shelton 1/2, Hayden 2/3 (3 RBI), Cope (RBI)
Hickman (14-14): Dowdy 2/3, Naranjo 1/3, Hoff 2/3 (2B), Prince 1/3, Burpo 1/3 (RBI)
Marshall: McKinney 6.0 (7 hits, 1 run), Driver 1.0 (0 hits, 0 runs)
Hickman: Prince 2.1 (3 hits, 3 runs), McClanahan 3.2 (1 hit, 1 run)
On the other side of the bracket in games played at McCracken County, the Mustangs beat Calloway County 3-1 and they will play in Tuesday’s semifinals against Carlisle County who beat Ballard Memorial 3-2.
