Hornets advance to District 8 championship with dramatic win over Mexico

Fulton junior catcher Isaiah Pani tags out Mexico senior second baseman Tanner Smith at home plate in the first inning of Saturday afternoon's Class 4, District 8 semifinal at the high school athletic complex.
Fulton junior catcher Isaiah Pani tags out Mexico senior second baseman Tanner Smith at home plate in the first inning of Saturday afternoon's Class 4, District 8 semifinal at the high school athletic complex.

The No. 2 seed Mexico Bulldogs rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the Fulton Hornets and force extra innings in the Class 4 District 8 semifinal baseball game Saturday afternoon in Fulton.

However, the No. 3 Hornets tallied a run in the top of the 10th to pull out a dramatic 6-5 victory.

Senior right fielder Trenton Clines bolted home to score the winning run on junior designated hitter Sabin Cassidy's squeeze bunt with one out.

Fulton will now face No. 4 seed Moberly for the District 8 title at 6 p.m. Tuesday after the Spartans knocked off top-seeded Kirksville 4-1 in semifinal play earlier Saturday afternoon.