Fulton edged out at Hallsville

The Hornets delivered big hits, but not enough of them in Thursday night's narrow 6-5 non-conference loss to the Indians.

Fulton (8-11) scraped together five hits in bowing for a second straight game and the fifth time in its last six contests.

"We just didn't make any (plate) adjustments," Hornets head coach Darren Masek said. "We saw a soft, left-handed thrower and we were out in front all night, and didn't hit very many balls hard."

Sophomore shortstop Devin Masek smacked a two-out triple to center to extend the game for Fulton in the bottom of the seventh inning. Sophomore catcher Isaiah Pani doubled him home on the next pitch, but Hallsville coaches appealed to the umpires that Pani didn't touch first base on his way to second.

The plate official upheld the appeal by the Indians, calling Pani out to end the game.

"It was very disappointing and very frustrating at the same time," Darren Masek said.

Pani belted a two-out, solo home run to left in the first to give the Hornets the early edge. Hallsville tied the game in the bottom of the inning, then tallied two more runs off Fulton junior starter Tristan Steffens in the second to grab a 3-1 lead.

Hornets sophomore center fielder Isaac Franklin smacked a two-out triple to plate sophomore third baseman Luke Gray and junior first baseman Zach Franklin in the fourth to tie the game. Isaac Franklin then raced home on the play on a Hallsville throwing error to put Fulton back on top 4-3.

The Indians reclaimed the lead for good, smacking a three-run homer off Hornets junior reliever Trenton Clines with two outs in the fifth.

Clines yielded three earned runs in two innings in taking the loss. He allowed five hits, struck out one and walked one.

Pani paced Fulton with a 2-for-3 showing. Gray and Isaac Franklin were both 1-for-3 and Devin Masek finished 1-for-4.

The Hornets return home for a North Central Missouri Conference clash with the rival Mexico Bulldogs at 5 p.m. today. The Bulldogs - ranked No. 9 in Class 4 by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association - defeated Fulton 8-2 on April 9 in Mexico.