Hornets defeat Hallsville 4-1

Fulton senior starter Tristan Steffens delivers a pitch in the Hornets’ 4-1 victory over the Hallsville Indians on Thursday.
Fulton senior starter Tristan Steffens delivers a pitch in the Hornets’ 4-1 victory over the Hallsville Indians on Thursday.

The Fulton Hornets beat the Hallsville Indians in a non-conference baseball game 4-1 at the high school athletic complex Thursday.

Fulton (9-7) took an early lead after scoring a run in the first inning. Junior third baseman Luke Gray hit a leadoff single and went to second on a single by junior shortstop Devin Masek. Both runners advanced on a groundout by junior first baseman Jared Peery. Gray scored on a sacrifice fly by senior starter Tristan Steffens.

The Hornets came up with a run in the second and two in the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0. Hallsville scored its only run in the top of the seventh.

Gray went 2-for-3 with a run batted in and two runs scored as the Hornets collected seven hits. Senior second baseman Jacob Hammerstone was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

“I thought we pitched well early, and we had a good approach at the plate,” Fulton head coach John Brinkmann said. “We didn’t hit the ball extremely well, but we got hits when we needed them.”

Steffens (4-1) threw a complete game to pick up the win. Steffens allowed an unearned run on three hits, struck out 12 and walked three.

“It was another big game for him,” Brinkmann said. “He was throwing it by guys and wasn’t trying to do too much.”

Fulton plays a North Central Missouri Conference game at Mexico at 5 p.m today.