Hilltoppers defeat Illini Bluffs
10-1
[April 25, 2025]
The Hilltoppers won their first home game of the season on
Thursday 10-1 over their Tomahawk Conference rivals, the Illini
Bluffs Tigers.
Mount Pulaski’s Veteran’s Park had some renovations done earlier
this season that forced the Hilltoppers to play the first 14 games
on the road. A new backstop, fresh infield sod, a new scoreboard and
some new signs on the outfield fences are just some of the updates
to the baseball field. A new press box has been built just behind
the baseball field. As construction continues in the area, parking
is available on what used to be the soccer field.
The Hilltoppers took to the new surroundings without missing a beat
on Thursday as Luke Martin started the game for Mount Pulaski.
Martin would strike out the first two batters he faced and go on to
strike out eight batters total. Martin worked five innings, earning
the win by allowing three hits and one run. Martin walked two
batters.
Aaron Volle and Liam Smith each pitched an inning in relief. Volle
struck out one batter. Smith struck out two batters.
The Hilltoppers scored first, in the bottom of the second inning,
when Volle doubled and Carter Clark and Preston Cowan each followed
with infield singles. With the bases loaded, Tyler Cross hit a
sacrifice fly to give Mount Pulaski the 1-0 lead.
The Tigers scored their only run in the top of the third inning
after two walks and a single.
Mount Pulaski busted the game open in the bottom of the third
inning, scoring six runs. Liam Smith led off the inning with a walk.
He scored when Chance Payne just missed a home run in deep center
field. Payne stopped at second for the double and Smith raced home
with the go-ahead run. Martin worked a walk in his at-bat and that
gave Volle the opportunity for an RBI. Volle smacked a line drive
single to left that scored Payne. Cowan added an RBI single to put
Mount Pulaski up 4-1. Cross and Cooper added singles in the inning
and with Chase Roberts driving in a run on a ground out, the
Hilltoppers were pumped with the 7-1 lead when the inning ended.
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In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers were
wild with a couple walks and wild pitches that allowed Mount Pulaski
a couple more runs. Clark’s RBI single scored Payne with the final
run of the game.
Liam Smith was consistent on the mound in the top of the seventh
inning, tossing 15 pitches to three batters, two of whom he struck
out.
Drew Dunn took the loss for Illini Bluffs. He threw three innings,
giving up seven runs on nine hits. He struck out two and walked two.
Mount Pulaski had 11 hits in the game.
Eric Cooper, Aaron Volle, Carter Clark and Preston Cowan were each
2-for-4 with an RBI.
Chance Payne went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Both of
his hits were doubles.
Tyler Cross was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
Mount Pulaski improves to 12-3 on the season.
The Hilltoppers will play at Springfield Southeast today at 4:30
p.m.
[Teena Lowery]
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