It was a late rally by the Owensboro RiverDawgs that did the trick in a slugfest on Wednesday, as they defeated the Hoptown Hoppers 16-14.
It was the RiverDawgs who struck first, taking advantage of three walks, a single and a hit by pitch to score two runs in the bottom of the first.
The Hoppers responded swiftly with a six-run top of the second, but Owensboro battled right back. Another trio of walks had the bases loaded for the RiverDawgs in the bottom of the second with one out for EJ Clark.
After a run scored on a wild pitch, Clark singled to make it a 6-4 game. An error plated another run the following at-bat, before a passed ball did so as well and sent the game into the third inning tied at 6-6.
But just when Owensboro seemed to have some momentum, Hoptown’s offense caught fire. They rattled off eight runs over the next four innings, taking a 14-8 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
The RiverDawgs were able to cut its deficit to 14-12 in the bottom half of the inning with four runs, but it was the bottom of the eighth where Owensboro grabbed its second lead of the game.
A pair of walks and a single had the bases loaded for the RiverDawgs once again with one out and Daleen Adderley took advantage. He singled to center to bring home two runs and knot things up at 14-14.
Clark came through for Owensboro once again the following at-bat with another RBI single, while Jake Allgeyer delivered the final blow with an RBI single to make it a 16-14 game.
This would be all that Derek McCarley would need to close the door, as he struck out the side to give the RiverDawgs a 16-14 win.
Adderley led the way for Owensboro with five RBIs, while Allgeyer, Clark and James Denten had two RBIs each and Nicklas Williams and Tyler McClure had an RBI each.
The RiverDawgs move to 6-12 overall with the win and will look to stay strong when they take on the Madisonville Miners at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
