Fulton blasts Marshall in five innings

The Hornets used 10 walks and seven hits to coast to a 14-0 five-inning North Central Missouri Conference runaway win over the Owls on Tuesday night.

Fulton (4-5, 2-2 NCMC) - which blanked Marshall 5-0 at home on Monday - equaled its season high in runs scored, while picking up back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

"I feel like tonight we were much more focused at the plate," Hornets head coach Darren Masek said. "We had much better at-bats up and down the lineup."

Sophomore left fielder Josh Quick and sophomore second baseman Devin Masek both drew walks to lead off the top of the first for Fulton.

Sophomore catcher Isaiah Pani singled home Quick to get the Hornets on the scoreboard, then Pani scored along with Devin Masek on junior pitcher Tristan Steffens' two-run double to left.

Steffens made it 4-0 when he scored on junior third baseman Trenton Clines' one-out groundout.

"We started with a couple of walks and then got a big hit from (Isaiah) to get us on the board," Darren Masek said. "We got some early momentum and it carried us today."

The Hornets - who scored all five of their runs in the first inning on Monday - stretched their advantage with five in the third on Tuesday. Fulton punctuated its output with two runs in the fourth and three in the fifth.

"I was glad that we did not sit on the lead," Masek said. "I feel like we got a five-run lead (on Monday) and sat back and relaxed, and tonight I feel like we competed from the first pitch to the last pitch."

Pani added a solo home run in finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Steffens went 1-for-3 with a run scored, Clines was 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored, while Quick finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Steffens scattered three hits over four innings and struck out three to earn the victory.

"He threw very well; I thought today he had the best command of his off-speed stuff," Masek said. "He was able to get all of his pitches over today."

The Hornets continue NCMC play at rival Mexico at 5 p.m. Thursday.