Fulton senior left fielder Devon Keltner's two-run double highlighted a four-run sixth inning as the Hornets turned away the North Callaway Thunderbirds 14-9 in their home opener Monday night.
North Callaway had closed within 10-9 on junior first baseman Clark Zerr's RBI single in the top of the sixth, but Fulton took charge in its half of the inning. Keltner's double extended the Hornets' lead and he came around to score on senior right fielder Devan Hudson's RBI single up the middle.
Hudson advanced to third on a wild pitch and then bolted home with Fulton's final run when senior center fielder Alec Fleetwood reached on a dropped third strike.
The Hornets - who also broke out for six runs in the second and four in the fourth - raised their season record to 2-0. North Callaway - which opened its season with losses to South Callaway 3-0 and Class 4 Kirksville 9-3 on Saturday in Mokane - slipped to 0-3.
"I don't know if we were focused enough early in the game, but we did enough to get a win," Hornets head coach John Brinkmann said.
Senior first baseman Jared Peery went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored as Fulton produced 12 hits. Hudson finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and scored twice, while Keltner was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Senior shortstop Devin Masek also went 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and scored twice for the Hornets, while senior second baseman Josh Quick finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Senior designated hitter Cameron Vititoe was 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and scored a run.
Sophomore Evan Gray - making his first varsity start - picked up the win for Fulton. Gray gave up seven runs, five earned, on six hits over four innings, struck out two and walked one.
Junior left fielder Justin Popp was 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI and a run scored as North Callaway finished with nine hits. Sophomore right fielder Skyler Morris went 1-for-2 with a double, two RBI and scored once.
Senior catcher Wyatt Branson finished 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while senior shortstop AJ Stubblefield was 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run. Senior second baseman Tyler Barton went 2-for-4 and scored a run.
Junior starter Chad Maupin was tagged with the loss for the Thunderbirds. Maupin surrendered 10 runs - seven earned - on seven hits in three innings, issuing three walks and striking out two.
Both Fulton and North Callaway committed three errors.
The Hornets begin North Central Missouri Conference play with a showdown at No. 3 Boonville at 5 p.m. today. Fulton lost to Boonville in a 6-5 thriller in last year's Class 4 semifinals, with the Hornets eventually taking fourth place and the Pirates finishing second.
The Thunderbirds play their home opener against Hallsville at 5 p.m. Thursday.