BOONVILLE, Mo. - The Fulton Hornets baseball team's first encounter with the Boonville Pirates ended up more shoddy than smooth.
Fulton produced only five hits and also committed five errors in being humbled by Boonville 11-1 in six innings in the Hornts' North Central Missouri Conference opener Tuesday night.
Fulton, ranked No. 4 in Class 4, slipped to 2-1 on the season. No. 3 Boonville had previously edged the Hornets 6-5 in last year's Class 4 semifinals as Fulton eventually finished fourth and the Pirates took second.
"Mentally, we weren't focused and it was almost like we psyched ourselves out a little bit," Hornets head coach John Brinkmann said of Tuesday night's loss. "It seemed like we didn't have the typical mojo that we usually play with.
"We didn't come out ready to play."
Boonville delivered three runs apiece in the second and third innings, before Fulton finally logged its only run in the top of the sixth. Senior third baseman Luke Gray was hit by a pitch with one out and moved up on senior first baseman Jared Peery's single to center.
Both Gray and Peery then advanced on a passed ball, and senior designated hitter Cameron Vititoe's sacrifice fly to center scored Gray from third.
The Pirates, though, ended the game on the run rule when they pounded across five runs in their half of the sixth.
Peery went 3-for-3, while junior left fielder Solomon Huff and senior second baseman Josh Quick were both 1-for-1 to supply the Hornets' five singles.
Senior starter Devon Keltner was pinned with the loss for Fulton, giving up nine runs - only four earned - on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Keltner struck out three and walked two.
"Devon pitched a whale of a game," Brinkmann said. "I probably left him in one pitch too long."
The Hornets will look to rebound when they return home to face NCMC foe Marshall at 5 p.m. Thursday.